Read Daniel 3. Compare the worship of the image there with the worship of the image in Revelation 14. What can we learn from this story that can help us understand the issue regarding the mark of the beast?

In Daniel 3. We find the remarkable story of how three Hebrew exiles withstood the temptation to worship an image of Gold and they refused even at the threat of death. In revelation 14. An angelic messenger delivers a warning against receiving a mark in the forehead or hands. The things which Daniel and his friends are confronted with are identical to the issues that God’s people will experience during the last days. The issue here is that there is that God is the only one worthy of worship. He is the only one worthy of worship because He is our creator and our redeemer. God calls us to be obedient to His commandments and to worship Him and Him alone.

Think through what it means to "worship" something. Is it always wrong to worship anything other than the Lord? If not, why not? Might there be some things that we can worship without sinning, without violating God's law? If so, what? If not, how can we make sure we are not worshiping anything other than our Lord?

There are many things which we “worship” I am think of a few such as our jobs, families, possessions. I believe that God calls us to display the same type of devotion in every area of our lives as we do in worship. Whatever our hands find to do we are to do with all of are might (Ecl 9:10). Paul also says that we should do all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). In this sense all that we do requires a type of devotion, but our devotion to these things is in the context of our devotion to God. We must not allow our devotion to these things trump our devotion to God.

Prayer: Father as we face issues which will challenge our worship to you and you alone help us to be strong. Please fortify our minds with your truth so that we may be able to stand tall for you in the last days. Fill us with your Holy Spirit Thank you Father, in Jesus name amen.