Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25, 28 / John 8:31-42
If there is something that we invented or created, we would certainly be proud of it.
It may be some kind of pottery, or a piece of painting, or some kind of machinery that can be useful to do some work more effectively.
And if we have chiselled out a beautiful statue, we would only want to put it on display for others to admire. But we would not think of making it an object of worship.
In the 1st reading, king Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden statue which he had made, and because he was king, he made his subjects prostrate and worship it.
And because he was king, all had to obey and worship that golden statue which could be a representation of himself. In other words, he thought of himself as a god.
All obeyed except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And there was no way that king Nebuchadnezzar would let this go. More than anything else, he wanted to show that he had power over life and death, and even power over the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Using the fiery furnace as a stamp of his power, he ordered the three men to be thrown in, only to be shown who really has power and who really is God.
Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood by their faith in God, king Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and acknowledged the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
When the powers of the world want to stamp their authority over us, let us also stand by our faith in God.
Like the three men, if our God wills to save us from the powers of the fiery furnace, then He will. And even if He does not, then let us also believe that we will be rewarded for our faith in Him when we meet Him face to face.