Daily Devotionals

My Name Is: Week 2 - Tuesday

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. Daniel 3:1

My sister and I constantly remind each other that people are thinking about us much less often than we think they are. You see, we know we both have a tendency to become self-focused and self-centered, and this reminder brings us back to reality. We all need a reminder that the world does not revolve around us from time to time.

If you are following along with these Daily Devotionals this week, we left off yesterday with Nebuchadnezzar's story in Daniel 2. In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar receives a warning that his kingdom is going to collapse and be overtaken. This warning is a call for him to turn away from his life of pride and turn to God. It seems, at first, that Nebuchadnezzar is receptive to his warning, but let's take a look at what he does next.

In Daniel 3, after declaring that the God of Daniel is the supreme God, we find him ordering for a huge golden statue to be made and commanding all of the people in Babylon to worship it. What is happening here? Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar, after hearing that his kingdom will not last, is trying his hardest to hold on to it while he can. You see, Nebuchadnezzar still believes that the world revolves around him, and he is trying to keep the world orbiting around himself as long as possible. Many scholars believe that this image he built up was in his own shape and likeness. Perhaps he is trying to create this new statue in hopes that it will outlast his own life and strengthen his kingdom. Whatever his purpose in building this statue, he is refusing to honor God as El Elyon, God Most High, and trying to build his own kingdom instead.

What about you? Are you living as if the world revolves around you, much like Nebuchadnezzar, or are you living for God's kingdom, a kingdom that will last? Despite what we may think, the world does not revolve around us. Everything that exists is from God and for God, and when we correct our line of thinking, we can truly live in a way that honors God.

Laura Courtney
Sagebrush Staff Writer

Moving Toward Action

One way that you can certainly remind yourself that life is not about you is to serve someone else. When you serve others and get in touch with their needs, you will be forced to take your eyes off of yourself. Who do you know that is in need today? Find someone today to serve. Take them coffee or a meal, pray with them, or spend time with them if they are lonely. Tell that person how much God loves them. As you serve, you will be reminded that the earth does not revolve around you.

Going Deeper

Read Daniel 3:1-7 (NLT)

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.”

So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.