Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled Firm Refusal was written by Win Collier.

When the Nazis drafted Franz Yeagerstadtter during World War II, he completed military basic training, but

refused to take the required pledge of personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler.

Authorities allowed Franz to return to his farm, but they later summoned him to active duty.

After seeing Nazi ideology up close and learning of the Jewish genocide, however, Yeagerstader

decided his loyalty to God meant he could never fight for the Nazis.

He was arrested and sentenced to execution, leaving behind his wife and three daughters.

Over the years, many believers in Jesus, under peril of death, have offered a firm refusal when commanded

to disobey God. The story of Daniel is one such story. When a royal edict threatened that anyone who

prayed to any God or human being except the king would be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel

discarded safety and remained faithful.

Three times a day, he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just

as he had done before. The prophet would bend his knee to God, and only God, no matter the

cost. Sometimes, our choice is clear, though everyone around us implores

us to go along with prevailing opinion, though our own reputation or well-being may be at risk,

may we never turn from our obedience to God. Sometimes, even at great cost, all we can offer is a firm refusal.

Today's scripture reading is from Daniel chapter 6, verses 10 through 23.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published,

he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day,

he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking

...