As I was reading Daniel 3, I was encouraged by the faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to serve, believe, and praise God's name no matter the circumstances. If you are not familiar with the story, let me give you a brief overview. There was a king who made a statue of himself for everyone to worship. If you did not bow down when the sound of a trumpet sounded, you would be killed. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were the only three people in the entire nation who chose not to worship the statue. To me, that was pretty bold with their lives on the line. Of course, someone told the king that they didn't bow. There is always someone that makes the stories more interesting.
Their answers to the king went like this:
Daniel 3:16-18 "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 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."
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. I started thinking about my own faith. That is the boldness and faith I desire to have when everything is on the line. I think it's a lot easier to exercise our faith when our life is not on the line. What are you praying for in this moment? What are you believing in God for in this moment? Will you still praise him if he doesn't answer the way you expect him to?
Daniel 19- 27 "Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."
What represents the burning fire in your life at this time? What is the enemy using to challenge your faith? This is your reminder that we serve a miracle-working God; we serve the God who saves from burning fires; we serve the God who split the sea; we serve the God who provided mana in the wilderness; we serve the God who turned water into wine; we serve the God who raised Jesus from the dead. There is nothing impossible for our God. My prayer for you today is that you will have the faith to praise God in the darkness and all the burning fires that the enemy throws at you. I pray that you will have the faith to praise him even if he doesn't answer you the way you are expecting him to. I pray that you will have the faith to believe that he has your best interest at heart because his word never fails.
If you are not subscribed to Daenne's Journal, click here to subscribe so the next article can be in your email.
Xoxo,
DD
Amen! Soo timley! I love the part when you say "we serve the God who saves from burning fires; we serve the God who split the sea; we serve the God who provided mana in the wilderness; we serve the God who turned water into wine; we serve the God who raised Jesus from the dead. There is nothing impossible for our God."
So good!
As believers, it’s important to have non-negotiables, meaning beliefs and standards that we will not waver from regardless of the situation we may be in or what we have to gain or lose.
A non-negotiable that every Christian should have is faith in Jesus Christ based on who He is, not what He does for us. This is the faith exhibited by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Prayfully, we all will have this level of faith to trust GOD no matter what.