Faith On Fire

Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

Daniel 3:16-18

My favorite phrase from this story is “but even if he doesn’t.” I never get tired of reading how the three friends of Daniel refused to bow down to a man-made statue—a god with a little g. They knew and loved the only capital-G God, the Creator and Sustainer of every living thing.

King Nebuchadnezzar was infuriated with them for refusing to follow his edict. In order to save face, he sentenced them to a grisly death—being burned alive in a furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood up for God and told Nebuchadnezzar that God could get them out of that hot situation, but even if He didn’t, they would not give in to the pressure of the world and put anything above their one true God—the only One worthy of praise, worship, and glory.

Nebuchadnezzar ordered that the fire be made seven times hotter than the normal furnace temperature. These three “wise men” expressed their faith in God in word and action. They knew God. Do we know God as personally as they did? Are we getting to know Him so well that we can say that we will never put anything above Him? Will we stay true to God even if He doesn’t do what we want Him to do—even to the point of death?

Whatever fires you and I face in this life, we need to get fired up by the fact that God is almighty and He is able to deliver us. But even if He doesn’t, we are still His for eternity. We win either way!

“Lord, we need You to light a flame under our faith too! Help us respond to the furnace of life in ways that bring glory and honor to You!”