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Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/1482149
POINTS TO GET YOU THERE: "He'll walk you through the fi re, protect you and promote you— and victory will be yours!" 8 : B V O V didn't take that route. Uncompromising in his faith, he gave all the glory to God, and so did Nebuchadnezzar. He said to Daniel, "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the a airs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king" (verses 47-49). Most of the time, when you stand up against the devil and refuse to compromise in one area, he'll come at you with something else he thinks will be more tempting. If you stand up against that, you get promoted. What's more, something powerful happens inside you. Your victory over compromise makes you stronger. It builds your character and makes you harder for the devil to deal with. That's what happened to Daniel and his friends. It's a good thing it did, too, because they needed that strength of character to deal with what king Nebuchadnezzar did next. He built a 90-foot-high golden idol for all the people in his realm to worship! Apparently having forgotten what he'd said about God being the "God of gods," he sent out a herald and issued this decree: "To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, fl ute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fi ery furnace" (Daniel 3:4-6). The Fourth Man Think of the pressure Daniel and his friends were under in that situation. The king's orchestra was playing, and everyone was bowing down to his statue—except Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They refused to violate their covenant with God by worshipping an idol. When the king heard about it, he was furious. He commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be brought before him and told them that the next time the orchestra played, if they worshipped the golden image all would be well. "But if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fi ery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" (verse 15). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didn't even have to think about their answer. They immediately replied, "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fi ery furnace, and he will deliver 1 Put absolute confi dence in God's promises and make His WORD your fi nal authority, even when in the natural it looks like it will cost you. (2 Pet. 1:4) 2 Make a quality decision not to conform to the ungodly pressures of the culture around you. (Dan. 1:8) 3 When God BLESSES you with success and people praise you, give Him the glory and steer clear of pride. (Prov. 16:18) 4 Put your faith in God in every situation and refuse to bow to the fear of man. (Dan. 3:17) 5 Remember, if you stand up against temptation, your character will be strengthened and you will be promoted. (Dan. 3:30)