Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Sometimes we need to hear stories of the faith of those before us in order to strengthen our own faith. One of my favorite forms of story is reading biography of missionaries who, in spite of incredibly challenging circumstances, followed faithfully the calling that God had for them. Some of them followed even to the point of their own death.

In this story about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we see a story of faith and resolve. These three faithful servants of God are willing to be thrown into a furnace with the utmost faith that their God will deliver them free from harm. They are willing to do this even if God doesn’t deliver them. They would rather burn to death than serve the false god made by Nebuchadnezzar.

So while these men watched the furnace get heated 7 times hotter than usual, they were confident in their one true God. When the king’s men threw the faithful three into the furnace, the fire was so hot it killed the mighty men who threw them in. When the king looked into the flames, there was a fourth man present with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

There are times we encounter fires around us and we too can trust that the Lord is with us. Whether we are walking in faith serving the Lord at work, in the community, or on the mission field, we are confident that when we are tempted to follow after other God’s, we will be protected from the flames when we seek after the one true God. Unwilling to bend a knee to idols, the men were spared from the fire and Nebuchadnezzar put out an edict forbidding anyone to speak against the God of the Jews.

Lord, please give me a faith that keeps me relying on and worshiping you alone. When I read this story I am in awe of who you are and the way you care for your people. May I seek you with all my heart in such a way that others will want to know you too. Amen…