Glory and Praise Forever

~~~ Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 ~~~ Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 ~~~ John 8:31-42 ~~~

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  

 To be a true disciple of the Lord requires great sacrifices.

To be a disciple of Jesus means that you are his student;

one willing to learn from the master teacher.

IF you are a true disciple you accept the teachings of Jesus...

in accepting these teachings you imitate them in your own life.

We are eager to be a disciple of Jesus because we believe that he is the one true God.

We believe that he has a covenant with us...

a covenant of salvation...our salvation.

The three young men written about in the book of Daniel

were willing to be thrown into the fiery furnace instead of worshiping false gods.

They believed that God would come to their assistance for their steadfast faith.

God did send an angel to protect them from the consuming fires.

Their salvation brought forth joyful songs of praise for all that God had done.

Glory and praise for ever!

  

 These three young men called out for all of creation to bless the Lord.

They had such faith as to speak out praises for the Lord

even as they circled in the scorching flames.

There certainly was nothing they could do or say that would have adequately

thanked the Lord for their lives.

So that brings us to where we are today; just days before Holy Week.

How can we begin to thank God for saving us from the flames of sin?

The simple answer is to give him praise and glory.

All we can really do is be thankful and humbly accept his generous mercy.

The most we can do is to constantly strive to live the life

even partially as he intended us to live. 

To live as his disciples...to live in love, mercy, and compassion.

Though we may walk through the burning flames

we will not be harmed because God will protect us.

He will walk beside us protecting us, leading us out of the fire.

May we forever sing the praises of the Lord fro he has been good to us...

he has done great things for us.

 We give you Glory and Praise almighty God.

Protect us from the flames of sinfulness.

Amen.