STANDING FOR GOD
"THEN THE KING PROMOTED SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO in the province of Babylon."
Daniel 3:30 (NKJV)
Instead of being ashamed and executed, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were rather promoted, because they stood for God.
When you compromised your stand or standard in God, it would not help you, because you would neither be in the good book of the boss or the person you wanted to sheepishly obey, nor attract God's favour (Acts 4:19).
Thus, It is better to be on the LORD'S side, saying; "IF I PERISH I PERISH" as Esther the queen said (Esther 4:16).
If you decided to lose your life because of Christ Jesus and His kingdom, you will find it, however, If you wanted to keep your life, you will eventually lose it; because you would not be able to keep it by yourself anyway: "HE WHO FINDS HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, AND HE WHO LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY [Jesus'] SAKE WILL FIND IT" (Matthew 10:39)
"FOR WHOEVER DESIRES TO SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY [Jesus'] SAKE WILL FIND IT."
Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)
Thus, be all out for God and stop being a secret disciple (John 19:38).
If you are for God, let it be made known wherever you find yourself.
Being a believer is a personal conviction, it is not a thing you are talked or cajoled into.
In other words, the decision to follow and serve God through Christ Jesus is what should be personally and deliberately made.
If the decision was deliberately and consciously made personally, you would be ready to do anything for God and undergo any threat or suffering or oppression or persecution because of His name and kingdom: "YES, AND ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION" (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV).
The trio—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—made the choice not to bow to the graven image and God proved Himself real in their situations and circumstances (Daniel 3:13-30).
Note:
• Would you be willing to suffer and die for God and the cause of His kingdom?
• Would you be ready to be maltreated, being persecuted, because of your faith?
• Now, what have you suffered for Christ since you gave your life to Christ Jesus?
If your faith is all about what you can get from God, without thinking of what can be given or contributed from your own end; it means your relationship with God is parasitic—being a parasite!
• In other words, what is that thing that God or His kingdom on the earth is gaining or benefitting from you?
• Being called a believer, what benefit it is to God and His kingdom, where you are and wherever you find yourself?
• Is your life, as a believer, affecting anyone positively at all?
A sacrificial life precedes promotion (Daniel 3:30).
The three Hebrews were willing to die because of their conviction and faith but instead of death, they were rather promoted—lifted (Daniel 3:16-18,30).
Your sacrificial living and labour of love in the kingdom would not go unnoticed and unrewarded by God, because He is not a user but a Rewarder: "FOR GOD IS NOT UNJUST TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOUR OF LOVE WHICH YOU HAVE SHOWN TOWARDS HIS NAME, IN THAT YOU HAVE MINISTERED TO THE SAINTS, AND DO MINISTER" (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV).
You will not miss and lose your rewards in Jesus' name. Peace!