Even If, Even Now, Even So

“But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Daniel 3:18 NIV

“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

John 11:21-22 NKJV

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Job 13:15 NKJV

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“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

Acts 4:17-18 NKJV

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.””

Acts 4:19-20 NKJV

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,”

Acts 4:29 NKJV

“you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.””

Daniel 3:5-6 NKJV

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Ushered towards that tree, stripped bear, it stands proud of the crowd parting before me.

Accusing eyes follow the sound of shackles, staccato clanks that pitch above the hushed murmurs.

I need no prompting to ascend the mountain of timber, wrapping sweaty palms around the claimed stake at its summit.

Like those before me, I greet it with a holy kiss, grateful for this- my vehicle of deliverance.

The testimony that has been hoisted over this territory now claimed, will flap forever, even in a windless age.

I will not yield, flame will never consume my tongue of truth.

A spark gives rise to engulfing trails of destruction, crackling ever closer.

It now consumes my flesh. Seared in torment, my colorless fingers stab into this wooden post- peeling back my face as I turn it skyward.

Over the mocking flickers I thunder “there is One on the throne! Jesus! Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!“

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Persecution would wish to silence me.

It barks, it sneers, it whispers and shouts lies- once only darkening my doorframe, it has now crossed the threshold, intent on making itself at home.

Let us be like Christ, and not surprised when the flames come to life.

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”

John 15:18 NKJV

Though they may crackle, our inherent gift is faithfully delivered.

“Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of

evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:3-12 NKJV

Let us resolve to stand in the day of adversity,

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel 1:8 NKJV

and be children who can only be ensnared by the faithful reputation that precedes us.

“Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Daniel 6:5 NKJV

For we can trust our God to take up the cause of His servants,

“no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will

refute every tongue that accuses you.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.”

Isaiah 54:17 NIV

that we may follow the example of Christ meekly resting in the "one who justifies"

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.”

Isaiah 53:1-7 NKJV

and instead be able to say

“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”

Acts 7:59-60 NKJV

Therefore,

“choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15 NKJV

If it lands me in the fire, then so be it. For:

Even if He does not deliver me, I will bow only to Him.

Even now, though this tomb has been sealed for four days,

He is the resurrection and the life; He is always able.

And though He may slay me,

Even so, I will ever and always hope in Him.

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Lord I humbly pray, please grant Your children the strength to take hold of the measure of faith You so mercifully provide to our ever wayward hearts. We can do nothing apart from You, O Holy Lord. Blessed be Your name from eternity to eternity. Amen.

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“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

Acts 4:17-18 NKJV

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.””

Acts 4:19-20 NKJV

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,”

Acts 4:29 NKJV

“you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.””

Daniel 3:5-6 NKJV

“Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””

Daniel 3:15-18 NKJV

“So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.””

John 11:17, 21-22 NKJV

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”

Job 13:15 NKJV

“Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.””

Daniel 6:5 NKJV

“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Acts 7:59-60 NKJV

“no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.”

Isaiah 54:17 NIV

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel 1:8 NKJV

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”

Isaiah 53:1-7 NKJV

““If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”

John 15:18 NKJV

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:3-12 NKJV

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””

Joshua 24:15 NKJV

“let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

Acts 4:10-12 NKJV