After Nebuchadnezzar made his 90 ft tall idol, he gathered all the governing officials for its dedication. These were the rulers and leaders of the land. They were politically and socially very powerful and influential people. When they were told to bow down to the idol, they didn’t ask any questions and just bowed–except for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Instead, they stood. Even when they were told they would be thrown into a fiery furnace if they didn’t bow, they stood firm. Verse 28 says that they trusted in the LORD and set aside Nebuchadnezzar’s command. And because they trusted in the LORD, He delivered them.

You are going to be faced with situations where everyone around you is pressuring you to do something that is displeasing to God, something that goes directly against God’s Word. Everyone around you may give into the pressure and bow. You may even be threatened if you don’t join them. But God’s people do what is pleasing to God even when no one else around them does. They stand when everyone else bows. They refuse to conform to the crowd.

Those who shine like stars stand when everyone else bows.

Decide to do what is pleasing to God today, even if that means you have to stand alone. Don’t fear man. Instead fear God and trust in Him. Watch how God will show up and stand with you. And watch how the culture and environment starts to change around you.

List a few ways that you feel pressured by your peers and those around you to do things that are displeasing to God.

List two to three friends you can encourage to stand with you today.

Pray for your three friends to stand strong for Jesus. Ask the LORD to give them strength to stand even when that stand is potentially very costly. 

And remember, God stands with those who stand for Him!