One of my favorite Bible stories of my childhood took place in a fiery furnace. It is the story of three young Jewish men, who are captive slaves, serving over the affairs in the province of Babylon...their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And as a side note, they seem to be doing well in their roles as administrators....serving King Nebuchadnezzar.
But as evil men do, the King has made a golden image and has issued an edict that when anyone hears the harp, horn, bagpipe or any kind of music, they are to IMMEDIATELY fall down and worship the golden image....failure to do so will result in being cast into a fiery furnace. At this point in the story, our three young men are living below the radar of the king; that is until those pesky Chaldeans bring to the king's attention that those he has placed over them (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) have failed to follow the king's edict to worship the golden image.
King Nebuchadnezzar is furious when given this news and commands that these three be brought before him. The king asked the young men if this is true regarding their failure to bow down and worship his golden image; but wanting to give them the benefit of doubt, he gives them one more chance to comply with his order...when they hear the music, all they have to do is bow down and all is forgiven and life can get back to normal. If not, into the fiery furnace they go...to which the king asks; "Who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?" What happens next is the best part of this story....their answer to the King.
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” BAM!!!Take that O mighty king! How is it that these young men can stand up to the king with such dire consequences waiting for them? It is from their stance to be F I R E walkers. This acrostic was brought to my attention a couple of days ago in my morning devotion time, while reading from my Stand Firm magazine.
You see when trials come our way (and they surely will), we need to have our minds set as to how we will respond. First, comes the "F"...Free ourselves from any thought or intention to please man or anything else that may entice us. These young men had already decided to be faithful in their followship of GOD...and with their minds made up to trust in and follow God, they would do nothing less than what they had predetermined to do. Secondly, they Intently focused on God, thus removing anything else that might hinder their vision of what lay ahead as they Relentlessly followed God. Their relentless attitude gave them the fortitude to seek God's will over any other desires, allowing them to totally commit to their walk with God, in times both good or bad. And lastly, by accomplishing the first three, they could then Express God's glory in all things...no matter the outcome of their situation, they knew in their hearts, that God would get the GLORY that He so richly deserves.
So my question to us all today is quiet simple...ARE YOU A FIRE WALKER? Do you have the mindset, likened to these three young men; so that no matter what manner of evil, trial or tribulation may come at you...or threat of fiery furnace, you have your mind made up to follow your God regardless of how hot the flames..or whether or not you receive a reprieve from the fire? For the rest of this wonderful Bible story, read on in Daniel 3:19-30 and see the great awakening that occurs in the heart and mind of King Nebuchadnezzar...it truly is a story of how those who follow in service to the ONE TRUE GOD, see Him work out all things for their GOOD ... so that HE WILL RECEIVE THE GLORY!!!!
Becoming a faithful FIREwalker....One step at a time,
WPQ
Poem for the day....
As harps and horns did play,
Would Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego
Bow before the
King that day?
To worship a golden
image
Made by human
hands;
The edict had
been issued
And spread
across the lands...
That anyone who
failed to bow
And worship as
required;
Would
immediately be tossed
Into a raging
fire....
But these young
men with steadfast hearts
Knew their God
would see them through;
For bowing
before this manmade idol
Was something
they could not do.
Yes their God
delivered them;
He will do the
same for you...
If your heart
and mind belong to Him,
It will show in
all you say and do!!!
WPQ © October 2020
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