DAY 340
RACK,
SHACK & BENNY!
Daniel 3 & 4 and 1 John 5
Rack—Shack—Benny is the Veggie Tale name for
the story of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego from Daniel 3. The story is a
classic. Nebuchadnezzar builds an idol. Daniel and his companions refuse to
worship it. The king therefore must kill them for their open rebellion against
him. And yet…and yet God is superior to all and “rack, shack, and benny” know
it. Their exact phrase is, “God is able to deliver us…” Quite remarkable when
you think about it; they refuse to serve and worship an idol even when faced
with death.
The link to the Veggie Tales video is here: http://www.cross.tv/86411
What idols do we face, what forces must we stare in
the eye…might we have the courage to not serve them? Today the idols, the
forces, are those of money and prestige, youth and health, popularity and good
looks…We do amazing things in serving them. Do you know that over 27 billion
dollars a year are spent on beauty products…for men!* 27 billion given to the
idol of good looks…might we feed a child or two with that money? I use this
example not to prompt guilt, but to make a point. There are powerful forces
that appeal to needs that are deep within us…the people who promote products
know what those needs are…it is how they wrangle 27 billion out of our pockets.
Those deep needs, needs for love, security,
purpose, all are found in Almighty God...and indeed when we are found by God,
we, by God’s grace and help, can face those forces and their fiery furnaces. It
is why we read in 1st John: For everyone who has been born of
God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the
world--our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world
except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
May you and I have the ability to see the idols and
forces of our day, and then by God’s grace have the ability to face and
overcome them.
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