“If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up." Daniel 3:17-18 HCSB

People fashion their God after their own understanding. They make their God first and worship him afterwards. Oscar Wilde*

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, created an enormous statue of gold, nine feet wide and ninety feet high. Then, he summoned all of his government officials and told them that unless they bowed down and worshiped the image when the music played, that they would be thrown into a blazing furnace. Most of the officials, not wanting to lose their lives, obeyed wholeheartedly when the music played. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were extreme worshipers of the Lord. They refused to bow down and worship the image, even after Nebuchadnezzar confronted them personally. They were thrown into the furnace, but miraculously were not even singed.

Lord, give us the courage to worship You by saying “no” to other idols set before us.

*thinkexist.com

Potential

Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7b HCSB

“The others are very pretty children,” said the old duck, “all but that one; I wish his mother could improve him a little.” Hans Christian Anderson*

On February of 1932, an American couple living in London gave birth to a baby girl. Unfortunately, she suffered from hypertrichosis and her entire body was completely covered in soft black hair. After a few weeks, her parents were relieved when the hair fell away, unveiling their newborn baby’s exquisite beauty. She grew up to be Elizabeth Taylor.

Samuel had the task of anointing a new king for Israel. When he asked to see the sons of Jesse, no one called David in from the field. He was the youngest and had been selected to watch the sheep while the older brothers were presented to the prophet. However, when David arrived, the Lord said to Samuel, “He is the one.”

The Lord sees your heart. He knows your potential. Be faithful to Him and follow His plans for your life no matter what circumstances tell you.

Lord, help us realize the potential You see in us.

*The Ugly Duckling

Treasure

But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21 HCSB

Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed. Epictetus*

It was a great morning. Kathy and I were speaking and sharing at a small church in Arkansas. I had ended our session with a story about the dangers of getting caught up in physical possessions. Following the service, I was feeling pretty good about myself until I walked out to my car, my new car, which I had purchased, and saw what had happened. There was a small dent and a large scratch over the driver’s side bumper. I felt myself getting angry, but then I remembered what I had just shared with the congregation.

God knows what is important to us. He knows where and how we spend our money. He understands our motives. He sees what we cling to. He wants us to cling to Him. He wants to be our treasure.

Lord, You are more precious than any treasure we could ever acquire.

*thinkexist.com