“There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” – Daniel 3:12
These three young Jewish captives had landed in a good situation in Babylon. With God’s blessing, they’d become important, trusted government officials. They were safe, comfortable, prosperous, and influential. All they needed to do to stay that way was to bow down to the statue of the king. All they needed to do was violate the Ten Commandments in the midst of a huge crowd of their coworkers. In an earthly sense, it would have been easy and understandable. But they didn’t, which is why we know their names today! They chose God over safety, comfort, prosperity, and influence. That’s ALWAYS the right choice!
Always do the right thing to obey and honor God, no matter what. Don’t be concerned about who sees you other than God Himself. Don’t be concerned about what people might say about you, concern yourself with what God will say to you. Don’t be concerned about the earthly consequences of faithfulness, even if they will be severe. Focus on the eternal rewards you will receive from the Lord. Never compromise your faith, surrender your integrity, or give anyone reason to believe you’re worshiping anyone or anything other than the Triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit.
Nobody can make you compromise your faith and Christian integrity. However, they can certainly tempt you to do so using threats or promises of reward. Be alert to this and NEVER give in. Not in small ways or big ones. Don’t allow your worship to drift toward someone or something else. Don’t allow your Christ-like character to slide downward. Don’t compromise your ethics to survive or get ahead. Take up your cross daily, deny yourself, and #FollowJesus