S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Daniel 3:6

Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.

O-bservation:

This is the last part of the decree spoken by King Nebuchadnezzar’s associate, demanding that the people fall on their knees at the sounding of the instruments and pledge allegiance to the 90-foot tall golden icon representing King Nebuchadnezzar. If anyone failed to do so, they in turn would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

A-pplication:

Perhaps you already know the story of the three young Hebrew men who were unwilling to bow down to the King’s icon. They were thrown into the fiery furnace and Jesus appeared to stand with them and rescue them without even a hair on their body being singed! The issue in this story is at the heart of every man and woman. Who are you going to serve? Who do you Pledge your Allegiance to? Who has your heart over the long haul? Throughout history, humankind has believed in some kind of eternal reward or eternal punishment. In Judeo-Christian teaching there is a heaven to gain and a hell (fiery furnace) to shun. For “Followers of Jesus,” we have been called to “Pledge Our Allegiance” to Jesus, the “King of Kings.” Those who fail to do so will suffer the eternal consequences known as hell. At another time in history an earthly king played the part of God with a little fiery furnace, and three men said we cannot “Pledge Our Allegiance” to someone so small. In the end, the ONE they gave their allegiance to walked them safely through the “little man’s” Fiery Furnace.

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

Once again this AM, I’m reminded that there will always be a test of who has my allegiance. Just like yesterday and tomorrow, it will always be You to whom … “I Pledge Allegiance.” Amen