Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 September 2026 Daniel 3:18.
Daniel 3:18. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Aye friends, it’s a beautiful Thursday morning, possibly the first official day of autumn, and it’s sunny and warm, though somewhat windy, but we will gladly take many more days like it before the white stuff starts to fly. (smile) Now, yesterday I promised to not be on the late bus as often as I’ve recently been, however today is not my fault. I had to take the Duchess out this morning, and obviously that meant a couple of other unscheduled stops So don’t blame me for today’s late bus activity, because I have to do what the boss says. (smile)
So let’s continue with Daniel’s story from yesterday, where we saw the powerful hand of Almighty God saving him from the lions, while those who had plotted against him, plus their families ,were decimated by the lions. And one important lesson to learn from that situation is what it caused to happen in the country; King Darius wrote a new decree. The Bible puts it thus: ‘Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men (must) tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power (paw) of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.’ (Dan. 6:25-28)
Yes mih brethren, Daniel’s steadfast standing up for his God, gave the Almighty an opening through the pagan king to have His word legally exposed in all the kingdom. Now that doesn’t mean that Darius embraced the God of Daniel, but he was sufficiently impressed with His power to acknowledge Him in his kingdom. And that’s the kind of thing that happens when we stand strong and steadfast for Jesus. It’s like Jesus says, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16) Daniel stood strong and God was glorified.
It’s the same kind of thing that happened when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to the golden image that king Nebuchadnezzar made and were thrown into the fire. But before we get to that, here’s one very important part of the action. That’s when king Neb told them about bowing down to his idol, they replied: ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not (have no need to) be careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.’ (Dan. 3:16-18)
Oh brother! Do we have it in us to stand up and defy the greatest power in the land in support of our faith and God? That’s a good question for us to ponder. Nowadays, you can’t even talk to a king like that, so to do so back then, when the king had total power was a sure method of signing your death warrant. And so it happened to the three Hebrew boys. Neb got mad, and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal, then had the boys bound and thrown into the fire. Things got so topsy turvy, that those who threw them into the fire got burned to death.
But then king Neb was astonished when he looked into the furnace and said to his counsellors: ‘Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no (are not) hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God ( a son of the gods). Then Neb came near to the mouth (door) of the burning fiery furnace and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, came forth out of the fire.’ (Dan. 3:24-26)
And the most wonderful thing is that when they came out of the furnace, all were amazed at these men, ‘upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats (garments) changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.’ (Dan. 3:27) Oh my people, only our great God can do such miracles. No wonder after that spectacular showing, Neb got up and spake thus: ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed (frustrated) the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill (an ash heap): because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort (like this). Then the king promoted (caused to prosper) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.’ (Dan. 3:28-30)
Yes mih bredrin, another pagan king praising and lifting up our God because of His servants’ steadfast behaviour. Now it’s our turn to show that kind of behaviour, so that our God can be further glorified. And He’s certainly given us the help to do it through the generous bestowal of a number of undeserved blessings, we call our Thursday Blessings. So let’s declare and activate them right now nuh, for a blessing is not a blessing until it’s spoken.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!…
when we stand steadfast…God will do signs and wonders…
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