Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of . . . music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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. 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.”
Thought for Today
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego make one of the most incredible statements of faith in all of Scripture. When the king threatens to throw them into the fiery furnace if they refuse to worship his statue and then defiantly asks what god is able to deliver them from this imminent doom, they respond, “Our God is able.” The God who interpreted the kings dream in the last chapter can save them from the fiery furnace. Their faith in their God was strong! The more impressive statement follows this first declaration. “But if not, we still will not serve your gods,” they say. They trust God’s purposes and plans more than they trust God’s power. After all, God’s power is in service to His purposes. God’s purposes are always redemptive. They know that God’s purpose in bringing them here is not to defeat the power or authority of the king. That would be too small a thing for God. The greater work would be to reveal Himself to the king in a way that draws his proud heart humbly to God. God can do that by either saving them from the fiery furnace, or by spending their lives in this moment to reach the king. They trust God’s plan enough that they are willing to stand just as firmly for the possibility that God chooses not to rescue them, than if He does. That is God’s concern. Their call is to be a faithful witness in the moment. That is an amazing statement of faith. They already know their eternity is safe with God. They are okay no matter when God chooses to begin it. Having an eternal perspective changes the way we see everything in our lives.
Prayer
Lord God, help me to have an eternal perspective on my life. Let me not get so caught up in my days here that I do not spend them with my eternity with You in mind. Amen.
Devotional Quote
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.—Jesus of Nazareth
Quote of the Day
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently. ― Maya Angelou
Daniel 3: Trust
Daniel 3: 14-18
Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of . . . music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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. 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.”
Thought for Today
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego make one of the most incredible statements of faith in all of Scripture. When the king threatens to throw them into the fiery furnace if they refuse to worship his statue and then defiantly asks what god is able to deliver them from this imminent doom, they respond, “Our God is able.” The God who interpreted the kings dream in the last chapter can save them from the fiery furnace. Their faith in their God was strong! The more impressive statement follows this first declaration. “But if not, we still will not serve your gods,” they say. They trust God’s purposes and plans more than they trust God’s power. After all, God’s power is in service to His purposes. God’s purposes are always redemptive. They know that God’s purpose in bringing them here is not to defeat the power or authority of the king. That would be too small a thing for God. The greater work would be to reveal Himself to the king in a way that draws his proud heart humbly to God. God can do that by either saving them from the fiery furnace, or by spending their lives in this moment to reach the king. They trust God’s plan enough that they are willing to stand just as firmly for the possibility that God chooses not to rescue them, than if He does. That is God’s concern. Their call is to be a faithful witness in the moment. That is an amazing statement of faith. They already know their eternity is safe with God. They are okay no matter when God chooses to begin it. Having an eternal perspective changes the way we see everything in our lives.
Prayer
Lord God, help me to have an eternal perspective on my life. Let me not get so caught up in my days here that I do not spend them with my eternity with You in mind. Amen.
Devotional Quote
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.—Jesus of Nazareth
Quote of the Day
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently. ― Maya Angelou