September 23, 2026 Devo

When I was in college, I worked for a while in sales for a company with a boss who was a bit shady. He would remind you of one of those motivational seminar guys who told stories that you knew couldn’t possibly be true, but you smiled and nodded anyway. One day we were in a sales meeting where he was trying to convince us that we were all going to be millionaires one day. As he gave his speech, one of my friends, who was kind of our boss’ second-in-command, came in and told our boss there was a man there to see him. Our boss looked annoyed, and it was clear that the guy was someone he didn’t want to talk to. So he told my friend, “Just tell him I’m not here!” My friend shook his head and said, “No. I’m not going to lie for you. I’ll be happy to tell him you’re in a meeting or that you won’t be available for a while, but I’m not going to lie.” That pushed my boss to the edge. I thought he was going to start yelling, but he didn’t. He finally took a deep breath and said, “Fine. Tell him I’m in a meeting and that if he wants to wait, I’ll be out in a little while. But if he’d like to come back another time, that would be best.” My friend nodded and left the room.
My respect for my friend went up about 1000% that day. He wasn’t rude. He didn’t come across as self-righteous or holier-than-thou. But he firmly held his ground as to where the line was that he would not cross. He wasn’t going to lie. And I firmly believe he would have held that line even if the boss said he would be fired if he didn’t. Being right with God was more important than keeping his job.
Where’s YOUR line? At some point along the way, we’re all going to be pushed to compromise, like my friend was and the three Hebrew heroes in our passage today. You see, it’s one thing to SAY this is what you believe. It’s another thing altogether when you’re called to LIVE by it! Is your faith strong enough to stand firm when you’re being tempted, when you’re being threatened, or when you’re promised reward? My friend could’ve told a “white lie.” The three Hebrews could’ve knelt before the statue but said they never really “meant it.” You can justify anything when your faith is weak. It takes strong faith to stare down a king or a boss and do what you know is right. Let’s take the high road. Let’s live by what we say we believe. That’s God’s Word for you today.