Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego and Ephesians 4

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:18-24 ESV)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 ESV)

Today our pastor spoke on Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego.  I came heart to heart with something that disturbed me.  They were unwilling to bow down and worship the idol, they were adamant about upholding their faith in the one true God.  Look at the powerful statement that comes from Daniel 3:16-18, they were not going to bow no matter the cost.  Even with their very lives on the line, they would not give God's glory to another.  The thing that disturbed me is how rampant sin is in today's society...even inside the church.  How is it that we have come so far as being willing to die so that God is worshipped above all, to behaving as if we we have unlimited free passes to go on sinning?

Now understand, I am not saying that God's grace has limits, however, there is a real heart issue if there is no change in our behavior when we come to Christ.  Can you imagine saying to a powerful ruler in today's world "I would sooner die than <insert request>?  How about " I would rather die than tell a lie"?  Or I would rather die than <insert sin>.  Surprisingly enough, I had an even more despicable thought...it wouldn't be so bad to die like that...but it sure would be hard to live like that.  

I skip now to Ephesians 4:18-24, this makes it perfectly clear that we are to cast off the old corrupt, deceitful self, and put on the new self created after the likeness of God.  We must experience REAL change in our lives and continually seek to choose what is in HIS best interest with no regard for ourselves.  We are called to be tender hearted, kind, and forgiving to one another.  

I submit tonight that it is a heart issue through and through.  We must choose to exalt God in all that we do and anything less is giving God's glory to things that are unworthy.  We must not just be willing to die for His glory, we must be willing to LIVE for His glory, every hour, everyday.  Seek Him daily, renew your mind in Christ, and be prepared to be persecuted for it.  Then when persecution comes, as it always does, stand strong, speak boldly, do not waiver, and above all glorify HIS name.  Amen!