Do I put God and His Word first?

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then a herald shouted out, "People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king's command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." - Daniel 3:1-6, 16-18 (NLT)

Our attitudes, decisions, and behavior are determined by one of two things: external pressure or internal principles. The conflict between those two elements is constant. And given our skill at self-justification, we easily succumb to external pressures that we try to redefine as internal principles. The fundamental question is this: Do we live by biblical principles and convictions or by the pressures of our particular situation? We're all weary of insincere people acting for social or political expedience. If ever the world needed principled people, it needs them now. - John MacArthur, An Uncompromising Life

Do I live by biblical principles and convictions or by the pressures of my particular situation?

Do I put God and His Word first at all times?

Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. - Charles Stanley

You and I will probably never face a fiery furnace. But we will face fiery trials and temptations that will come from various sources. As transformed followers of Christ, this is what we know..

1. Satan will tempt you.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith] as though something strange or unusual were happening to you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, keep on rejoicing so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy. - 1 Peter 4:12-13 (Amplified Bible)

2. The world will entice you.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. - 1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)

3. God will be with you.

...the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." - Isaiah 43:1b-3a (NLT)

Adversity is a bridge to a closer relationship with God. - Charles Stanley

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand;
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not; I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake. - George Keith

Be Encouraged to stand firm on the foundation of God's Word when tempted to compromise.

- Jeffrey Thornton