Bible Reading: 1 Kings 21; 1 Thessalonians 4; Daniel 3; Psalm 107
Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
These young men were taken from their parents as teenagers and trained in all the learning of the Chaldeans. They were friends of Daniel and because of his help to the king he was promoted. He asked if his three friends could also have positions and they too were promoted. Now they were faced with a choice. They could either bow before a golden idol or suffer the consequences. The choice was easy for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had already decided who they would worship. There is only one God and he is not worshipped by bowing to images and idols. No craftsman could make an image of the God who created heaven and earth.
When it was found that they would not bow to the image, Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He gave them one more chance, but their reply is classic! They told the king that God was able to deliver them from the fire and from the hand of the king. But, even if God did not choose to deliver them, they would not serve false gods or worship an image. They were ready to die if that was God’s will. They did not speak presumptuously as they told the king about their God’s ability. He was able to deliver, but they were not sure if that was his will. Their devotion to God was complete! They would rather die than deny the God whom they loved and served.
We need this kind of young men and women today. We need young people who have an unshakable confidence in God and will not compromise. We need young people who love Jesus and know that what the Bible says is true. We need those who say:
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
God did deliver them and he did it in a miraculous way! Jesus was in the fire with them. And when they were brought out, not only were they not burned, but their clothes did not even smell like smoke! Our God is mighty to save!
In Christ,
Rody
