Stand By Me // Pastor Amelia Houdek

Have you ever experienced a negative consequence for doing the right thing?  It could be anything from helping someone with their grocery cart only to have them yell at you for assuming they can’t do it.  Or, you can experience this with teenagers when you deny a request to go somewhere or be with someone because you are protecting the teen only have them pout and give you the silent treatment for days.  Maybe, just maybe, you are asked to do something unethical or illegal and you refuse to abide your boss’s directive only to be fired the next day?  There are times, many times, when we face negative consequences to acting in a way that honors God and the other, and even our planet.  Our text for today focuses on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who suffer at the hands of an angry king.  King Nebuchadnezzar demands complete loyalty to him and his gods, alone. The consequences to defying this tempestuous king means physical harm, even death. And yet, Daniel’s friends refuse to bow down the golden idol Nebuchadnezzar has made of himself. They choose to honor God and trust that no matter what happens, God will save them.  And God does. Yes, walking in the fiery furnace is a negative consequence of disobedience to the earthly empire, but God, who is faithful, uses this situation to show God’s complete power and love above any and every earthly kingdom, empire, country, or king. How might you stand together with others to face retribution because you choose to trust God and God alone?