Post number 2 in Keeping with the theme of Lent and Repentance.
Today’s Reading comes from Daniel chapter 3 - The story of King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel’s three friends who were sentenced to the fiery furnace – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Looking at the story from a different stand point I would like to focus on the image of the fiery furnace. Sometimes the world may condemn us to the fiery furnace or would like us to believe that something is wrong with us if we do not conform to its ways. Often, turning away from the world may seem like the most painful thing to do because the world appeals to our human nature. We say to ourselves “Well maybe this act is ok because everyone is doing it, or everyone expects me to behave this way too.”
The question to ask is does God expect you to behave in this way ? He is the only one who can truly judge your actions and can determine your fate. Not your friends, not your co workers, your classmates or peers in general.
If you choose the way of God you may find that you are alone in your decision, that you are abandoned by those who try to get you to act in a way that is not pleasing to God. They condemn you to the fiery furnace for being true to your God. You get consumed by the fiery furnace and feel that the temperature is too hot. You look at your ‘friends’ out there looking so cool (cool as in temperature too) and you want them to pull you back in to their world. But look around you….you are not alone, just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not alone…
Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles,
“Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?”
“Assuredly, O king,” they answered.
“But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”
“Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?”
“Assuredly, O king,” they answered.
“But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”
When you walk in that fiery furnace know that you are not alone Jesus is present and will always protect you from the fiery death that you seem to face for following His ways. Once you trust in Him and are strong you will be unfettered and others will see you unfettered and thriving amidst the flames. Hopefully your actions will be a testament to the others who left you in the furnace and they will recognize, just like King Nebuchadnezzar that your God is more powerful than the worldly gods.
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, (and your God too)
who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.”
who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.”
I hope you are blessed today. Keep on praying and fasting to be truly blessed this Easter !
Nicole
Very good lady.. You're right on!
ReplyDeleteVery impressive Nic! I hope this website/blog will touch and heal hearts. I pray that you will continue to build on this website and share with us your powerful and inspiring words.
ReplyDeleteIt is undoubtedly challenging to pursue the right path or God's way because the compelling outside influences and negative forces. I can testify to your last paragraph. God does protect his people and the journey to righteousness is never lonely. I've always felt protected and I still do. It may sound difficult and it is because humans are sinful by nature but once you professed to Christ that you want to follow his way, he guides you and one can be astonished by ease of this process.
Once you are caught in fire, it's impossible to not feel the heat. While God can make you more resilient , he also keeps you safe and away from the fire..negative energy. In my journey with Christ I've noticed that many situations that could have possibly weaken my spirit just simply cease to exist in my world....
Shana