NKJV 365 / Observation

NKJV 365 Day Reading Plan

Day 310 of 365 Observation Pride and arrogance led Nebuchadnezzar to command all the officials to worship the image or face death. Undoubtedly it was a way for the king to promote submission to his authority. Inspiration Ever wonder why churches are powerful in one generation but empty the next? Perhaps the answer is found in Proverbs 15:25: "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud." God hates arrogance. He hates arrogance because we haven't done anything to be arrogant about. Do art critics give awards to the canvas? Is there a Pulitzer for ink? Can you imagine a scalpel growing smug after a successful heart transplant? Of course not. They are only tools, so they get no credit for the accomplishments. And the message of the Twenty-third Psalm is that we have nothing to be proud about either. We have rest, salvation, blessings, and a home in heaven-and we did nothing to earn any of it. Who did? Who did the work? The answer threads through the psalm like a silk thread through pearls. "He makes me . . ." "He leads me . . ." "He restores my soul . . ." "You are with me . . ." "Your rod and Your staff . . . comfort me . . ." "You prepare a table . . ." "You anoint my head . . ." We may be the canvas, the paper, or the scalpel, but we are not the ones who deserve the applause. And just to make sure we get the point, right smackdab in the middle of the poem, David declares who does. The shepherd leads his sheep, not for our names' sake, but "for His name's sake." Why does God have anything to do with us? For his name's sake. No other name on the marquee. No other name up in lights. No other name on the front page. This is all done for God's glory. (From Traveling Light by Max Lucado) Taken from The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible Daniel 3:8-16 Daniel 3:8-16 NASB 8 For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews. 9 They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: "O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to fall down and worship the golden image. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.