Day Two - Tuesday June 14
We Will Not Bow

 What we are looking at today is a desire to honor Jesus above all else, and to say no to things that are not pleasing to Him. This doesn’t mean we can’t do anything, but only the things that don’t bring joy to God’s heart.

 Look up Daniel 3:14-18

. and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?  Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

This story is the true story of three young men, teenagers, who were willing to take a stand in their nation that could cost them their lives. They were willing to look at everything that was going on and say, “Enough is Enough!

Lets look at something closer to home. You are at a friend’s house and often they put on the T.V. and watch something that inside you know makes fun of God and shows things that you know are wrong. Or they take out a Dungeons and Dragons game or want to play some computer game that has extreme violence or occultic influence.  Yet you just sit there and either watch, or maybe just leave quietly but really don’t say anything because you don’t want to offend them.

Or you see some kid in your gym class being ridiculed because they are either “fat” or a ‘geek” and you don’t say anything because you are afraid they will say you are a goody- goody and start picking on you if you stand up for him or her.

Or you are in class at school and the teacher openly ridicules Christians and what they stand for, and asks, “Is there anyone here that actually believes this?” And you sit and don’t say anything.

The point in this consecration call is that you are more concerned about what God thinks and what matters to Him, than what is popular or convenient. It doesn’t mean you have to be nasty about it but it does mean that in your heart you say that you will speak out and stand for what is right, no matter if because of it you loose a friend or are labeled a “nerd” or what ever.  Eg. “You know I really would like to spend time with you, but this program really hurts me because it is making fun of my best friend Jesus. Could we watch something else?”

LET”S PRAY: Dear God I really want to live in a way that shows that I am more concerned about what You think than what it popular. Help me to live in a way that brings joy to your heart, and draws other people to You. Amen