Play Ball!? … NOPE!

S – Daniel 3:16-18, 28, 29 (ISV): “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “It’s not necessary for us to respond in this matter. Your majesty, if it be his will, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the blazing fire furnace, and he will deliver us from you. But it not, rest assured, your majesty, that we won’t serve your gods, and we won’t worship the golden statue that you have set up.” … Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and announced: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him.  They disobeyed the king’s command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God. … there is no other god who can save like this.””

O – Why wouldn’t these three “play ball” with the king? He wasn’t asking them to refuse to worship their god/God … only to add his statue to their routine.  Should it have been that big of a deal? I mean, in that day and age that was how “things were done.” It’s the way the world of that time worked. Their entire earthly existence depended on accepting the world as it was and accommodating oneself to its practical matters of daily living … or did it? The Scriptures are clear from beginning to end … we really can’t worship more than one. Jesus put it this way (Luke 16:13): “No servant can serve two masters, because either he will hate the one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and wealth!”

A – 2 Corinthians (4:4) speaks of the god of this world blinding minds and keeping people from seeing Jesus.  This tragic dynamic is possible for all humans not just for those who’ve never expressed some kind of faith.  The god of this world doesn’t mind us following Jesus as long as we add him to the way things work on earth.  We can say his words, hold religious services and claim to represent his ideas but when push comes to shove in the practical matters of daily living and one’s future … if this world dictates my course of action and compels me with the threat of impending doom for failure to comply and I do--I am playing the game of multiple masters which Jesus warns me to refuse. He said to Nicodemus and he says to me (John 3:12): “If I have told you people about earthly things and you do not believe me, how will you believe me if I tell you about heavenly things?” This world (secular and religious) wants me/us to “play ball” with it and ultimately to die with it.  Jesus calls me to believe him and really live here and hereafter.

P – Lord in heaven above and on earth below,

Thank you for calling me/us to yourself today and forever.  You are the God of daily bread. You know our needs before we ask and you are pleased to meet our needs. I admit I cannot (and do not want to) serve two masters … and money wants me to serve it and love it but it will never love or care for me.  Today, I am thrilled to be able to say yes to you and no to all others; to join the ancient three in living out loud the fierce personal loyalty (trust) you deserve and offer.  I believe you will do all that you have said in providing and protecting. You are life and I want only to be with you and on your teamJ!

Yes to you and no to all others,

Steve