Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image as a national religious symbol, and demanded that all citizens, great and small, bow before it. He set up the image in open plain country where it could be seen from afar, then called all the leading officials from the country areas to a dedication ceremony. He gave instructions concerning the ritual to be followed in worshipping the image, and laid down the penalty for any who disobeyed.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to obey. They had no doubt that if the sentence against them was carried out, God could save them if he chose to. Either way, they were determined not to worship the king's image and were prepared to accept the consequences.

When I praise God I am showing that I really think favorably of Him. I thank Him for things He's done for me or just for who He is. But when I worship I am telling God I adore You. Lord, I reverence You! I'm devoting my time, my life, and my body to You because of who You are. We not only need to remind people who Christ is, but that He also deserves our worship.

Worship is a "feeling of profound love and admiration." It is a "reverent honor and homage paid to God." The Greek definition simply means to, "bow down." My worship is a lot different from my praise. Praise means to "express favorable judgment of; or to commend." We praise a lot of things. But it was God who sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save me from my sins; and therefore, He is the only One who deserves my worship and my praise!