Among LionsSample

CONTEXT: King Nebuchadnezzar builds a huge statue and demands everyone to bow down in worship.

The Bible doesn’t say how much time has passed since Daniel revealed the king’s dream to him, and the king responded with praise and offerings to God, but it was enough for King Nebuchadnezzar to have a golden statue 90’ high by 9’ wide built for everyone to worship. Upon completion, he commanded everyone to bow down and worship the statue or risk being thrown into a fiery furnace.

But wait. After his dream was translated, didn’t King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge Daniel’s God as the “God of gods and Lord of kings”? Yes, he did. However, we see that acknowledgment of God’s power doesn’t always lead to a transformed heart.

Although the king praised God, his devotion was short-lived. He didn’t begin to obey or honor God. He didn’t stop worshiping other gods and idols. He didn’t encourage others to follow God. The king’s heart hadn’t changed. Instead, he minimized God’s power and holiness by adding Him to the list of gods and idols he already worshiped.

Chances are you don’t have a 90’ statue you worship. But idols don’t have to be prominent to shift our focus and attention away from God. They can be subtle and even good things like a relationship, career, family, ministry, or goal. Whatever is taking God’s rightful first place in our lives is an idol. The good news is that God is forgiving. He longs to be first in our lives and offers us grace as we come to Him with a humble heart willing to change.

It’s possible to know a lot about God and still not follow Him. Knowledge alone doesn’t lead to salvation. There has to be an internal difference. In other words, it’s not enough to declare God as Lord, as we’ve seen with King Nebuchadnezzar. There must also be a change of heart because everything else flows from it.

CONSIDER THIS:

1. God's design is that we will grow to be more like Him. How would you describe your transformation or change since following Jesus?

2. An idol, by definition, is an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. Examine your own heart. Is anything currently distracting you from making God your first priority?

3. Write a prayer confessing anything that’s taken God’s place in your life. Invite Him to transform your heart as you make Him your first love.