Our Ruler in the Heavens

[Daily Devotional]

Our Ruler in the Heavens 

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth
over all. Ps. 103: 19. 

The three Hebrews were called upon to confess Christ in the face of the
burning fiery furnace. They had been commanded by the king to fall down and
worship the golden image which he had set up, and threatened that if they
would not, they should be cast alive into the fiery furnace, but they
answered, "We are not 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). 

To bow down when in prayer to God is the proper attitude to occupy. . . .
But such an act was homage to be rendered to God alone . . . , the Ruler of
the universe; and these three Hebrews refused to give such honor to any idol
even though composed of pure gold. In doing so, they would, to all intents
and purposes, be bowing to the king of Babylon. . . . They suffered the
penalty. . . . But Christ came in person and walked with them through the
fire, and they received no harm. 

This miracle produced a striking change in the minds of the people. The
great golden image, set up with such display, was forgotten. The king
published a decree that anyone speaking against the God of these men should
be put to death. . . . 

These faithful Hebrews possessed great natural ability, they had enjoyed the
highest intellectual culture, and now occupied a position of honor; but all
this did not lead them to forget God. Their powers were yielded to the
sanctifying influence of divine grace. . . . In their wonderful deliverance
were displayed, before that vast assembly, the power and majesty of God.
Jesus placed Himself by their side in the fiery furnace, and by the glory of
His presence convinced the proud king of Babylon that it could be no other
than the Son of God. . . . By the deliverance of His faithful servants, the
Lord declares that He will take His stand with the oppressed and overthrow
all earthly powers that would trample upon the authority of the God of
heaven. 

>From God's Amazing Grace - Page 43