Last night, we watched the final video in Pam Stenzel's "Love Lessons" series.  She talked about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, from Daniel chapter 3, and how they had to choose between standing up for God and dying for their faith, or kneeling down to the idol the king had created.

There are so many idols in our lives.  Every day, we have opportunities to stand up for what we believe.  Sometimes those choices seem small and insignificant, but every small chance that we take to make a stand, it builds us up and makes us stronger, so when the tough temptations come, we are steeled and ready for it.

Next time your friends are talking bad about someone else, will you make a stand?  Next time you are at a party and someone brings out the alcohol, will you do something about it?  Next time you are watching a television show or movie and it offends you, will you keep watching?

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 

We all face temptations, but so does everyone else.  We have to learn to trust God to lift us up.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a furnace for their beliefs, and God saved them from death.  You have a chance to stand up for God at home, school, when you're hanging out with your friends... don't miss those opportunities.  You will be greatly blessed when you choose to honor God instead of kneeling down to the "idols."