King Nebuchadnezzar had no interest in God. As the greatest king of the world’s largest empire at that time (Babylon), he considered himself greater than the deity of the tiny nation he had conquered so easily (Judah). In fact, he was so convinced of his own divinity that he constructed a giant statue of himself and ordered all his subjects to bow to it; anyone who refused was thrown into a superheated furnace. God, however, pursued Nebuchadnezzar relentlessly. First God used Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (three Jewish captives) to speak truth to the king. Then God demonstrated His power by protecting them in the fiery furnace. Next, God warned Nebuchadnezzar in a dream what would happen to him if he did not repent, and God used Daniel (another Jewish captive) to interpret the dream. When Nebuchadnezzar refused to humble himself, God followed through. The king spent seven years in a disturbed mental state, living in the wilderness like a wild animal. But God restored Nebuchadnezzar, and in the end, it appears the king did finally come to genuine faith. God still pursues lost people with that same persistence today. He’s pulled out all the stops, sending His own Son, Jesus, to die on a cross so we can be forgiven for our sins and enter a right relationship with Him. Love like that deserves our undivided attention! Will we respond like Nebuchadnezzar, resisting God at every turn? Or will we put our trust in Jesus and follow the examples of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel pointing others to God’s love through the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Michelle Isenhoff King Nebuchadnezzar let wealth, power, and pride stop him from humbling himself before God. What things hinder people from turning to God today? What circumstances has God worked through in your life to direct your attention toward Him? Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud. Daniel 4:37 (NLT)
Read Verses:
Daniel 3-4; Matthew 19:23-26; Mark 10:23-27; Luke 15
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