Hello Everyone! What a week we had last week!!! 168 tornadoes in Alabama, the Royal Wedding, and Osama bin Laden's death...and that was just what the news covered! If you're like me, last week is merely a blur of events that seemed to have all run together.
Today's devotional will be taken from the book of Daniel chapter 3. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is a story that most of us have heard since we were children. It's truly a wonderful story of God's faithfulness and gives us such a wonderful example of 3 men who did not fear the future but the trusted God regardless of their circumstances.
If you haven't read the story, please take a moment to do so - I believe you'll find it fascinating!
What I'd like to focus on from this passage today comes from verses 23 and following. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to the king's statue and resolved that they trusted God and would worship Him and no one else, the first action of the king was to have the men firmly bound. They were totally incapable of changing their circumstances. The second scene shows us that the king ordered the fire to be turned up 7 times the normal burn. It was so hot that the soldiers died who threw them into the fire -- they were consumed by it. And the next passage shows the king marvelling that there were 4 men walking around in the fire - unbound and unharmed and 1 appeared to be of a divine nature. The last scene gives us a picture of the 3 men walking out of the fire, a changed king and a newfound respect for God Almighty not only by the king but by the rest of the nation as well.
This amazing story is so full of object lessons for us. These three men had been ordered to worship an idol. They refused and faced certain death because of it. But our first lesson comes in the form of resolve. King Nebuchadnezzar was a big voice, a major power and had a roaring temper...and these 3 men were his employees - trusted leaders. To refuse to bow down to this statue caused them to face the wrath of an egotistical, evil man. But, he was just a man. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, knew God's Word and they knew that His very first command was to put NO OTHER GODS before Him and worship no other. They knew God intimately because they prayed, worshipped and spent time with Him. They remembered the great things He had done for their Nation and knew of His power and so just a man who happened to be their king and boss really didn't scare them much considering that if they had worshipped that statue they would have faced the wrath of God -- a seemingly greater force to reckon with. I like their resolve -- respectfully they said, Oh king, we really don't need to discuss this matter with you - for if you throw us into the furnace we know that our God is able to deliver us and protect us from that fire's destruction -- but if He chooses not to, it won't change our behavior in worshipping your statue...we will not bow down to it.
The lesson here is that we have to make a decision in our walk with God. We must base that decision on God and God alone and not our circumstances, outcome or future. We must trust God regardless of what is going on inside, outside or around us. We must believe He is good and He is God and that He always acts for the greater good regardless of the cost. That is maturity in our faith. If we can come to this place in our walk with God - then loss or facing the loss of property, people or possessions will not change Who we worship.
In their refusal to worship the statue, these men were bound tightly. They had absolutely no control over their circumstances. Have you ever felt like that? Ever been in a situation where you couldn't fix it no matter how hard you tried? Did it shake your faith at it's very foundation? This is a great visual of the same situation. I'm sure those of you who are reading this who may have experienced those great storms last week can truly relate to feeling completely out of control of your destiny and circumstances. So many of us are bound so tightly by bad choices, attitudes, past hurts, wounds and unforgiveness that we have literally stunted our growth as Christians. This is bondage and by letting the enemy take hold of our minds, thoughts and actions, we have assisted him in taking on those bindings - those ropes and chains that paralyze us. Sometimes, our circumstances have nothing to do with our personal choices - they are affected by others. Whether it's caring for an aging parent, sick loved one, small children or teenagers - or - whether its living next to a neighbor who gets on your last nerve or being a member of a very dysfunctional family or maybe it's a job loss, difficult work environment, unfaithful or unreasonable spouse - we may not have the ability to change these situations - but we don't have to bow down and let them defeat us. There's nothing sadder than a Christian who has lost their resolve. Sometimes things get so hard, we want to give up - that's when we dig in and fight harder. It's when we let go of control and relinquish our will to God as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did in saying - we believe He can deliver us - BUT IF HE DOESN'T - it won't change who we worship.
Notice the next scene where there are 4 men in the fire. They are unbound and unharmed - only 3 were thrown in the fire and yet the 4th one appears to be a divine being. We may be in the midst of a fiery trial or a dry wilderness and may feel isolated and alone - but my friends, we are never alone if we have Christ. He has sent His Comforter...the Holy Spirit - a divine being - to fulfill His promise to never leave or forsake us. And if we are in the fires of life - guess what? HE's right there with us.
They are unbound and unharmed. The fire caused the bondage to burn off. If we want to be free from the bondage of sin, we will go through suffering, trials, fire, tests. This isn't punishment, though it may feel as though it is - this is the process of sanctification -- becoming more like Jesus -- loosing our bondage, freeing us to walk in fullness by refining us to be more like Him. Boiling our "stuff" out of us so that we can come out on the other side stronger and purer and more useful. If God is dealing with your "issues or stuff" right now, please don't rush this process - let him dig deep and carve out those deep hurts - you'll be the better for it on the other side if you're willing.
In the last scene, we see King Nebuchadnezzar with a change of attitude -- the confidence that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego showed in God not only preserved their lives, but brought them protection in the fire, released them from their bondage and also changed the heart of a king and the attitude of a nation -- it turned the focus off of a golden statue and on to the One who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Three men who confidently believed in God and trusted Him beyond their circumstances received promotion in their positions of leadership - God blessed them materially because of their faithfulness and commitment to Him. Three men didn't let fear paralyze them in holding fast to their commitment to worship only God -- God blessed them by freeing them from bondage, preserving their lives and walking with them in the fire which was 7 times hotter than normal - 7 marks the fullness of God in the Bible. Three men confidently and respectfully refused to worship an idol but instead were honest with the king and trusted God in His fullness - God blessed them and changed the heart of a king and a nation because of it.
Never doubt that there's a ripple effect on those we influence in the choices we make. It can be a good ripple or a bad ripple. If we choose to operate in fear and allow our circumstances or old habits or weaknesses to control us - we can pass down these behaviors to the generation that follows us and it will continue to the next and the next unless someone rises up and agrees with God to do the work. We might cause someone to stumble in their walk with God or turn their back on Him if we waiver in our trust and depend on our circumstances rather than God's Word to guide us.
We have a choice -- Choose this day, who you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Dear friend, will you choose this day to trust God and let His peace, which surpasses understanding be your guide in tough times? Just as seasons come and seasons go - fiery circumstances come and go too. If we are willing to walk through the fire and trust God when the heat cranks up 7 times hotter - we will emerge without burn or blemish and without even smelling of smoke into God's fullness. We will be stronger, purer and more useful to God in the next season and more mature in our walk with Him. Let's resolve today not to bow down but to trust God to deliver us - BUT IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO - we still will not bow down.
Until tomorrow - be blessed...not stressed! Amy
Today's devotional will be taken from the book of Daniel chapter 3. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is a story that most of us have heard since we were children. It's truly a wonderful story of God's faithfulness and gives us such a wonderful example of 3 men who did not fear the future but the trusted God regardless of their circumstances.
If you haven't read the story, please take a moment to do so - I believe you'll find it fascinating!
What I'd like to focus on from this passage today comes from verses 23 and following. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to the king's statue and resolved that they trusted God and would worship Him and no one else, the first action of the king was to have the men firmly bound. They were totally incapable of changing their circumstances. The second scene shows us that the king ordered the fire to be turned up 7 times the normal burn. It was so hot that the soldiers died who threw them into the fire -- they were consumed by it. And the next passage shows the king marvelling that there were 4 men walking around in the fire - unbound and unharmed and 1 appeared to be of a divine nature. The last scene gives us a picture of the 3 men walking out of the fire, a changed king and a newfound respect for God Almighty not only by the king but by the rest of the nation as well.
This amazing story is so full of object lessons for us. These three men had been ordered to worship an idol. They refused and faced certain death because of it. But our first lesson comes in the form of resolve. King Nebuchadnezzar was a big voice, a major power and had a roaring temper...and these 3 men were his employees - trusted leaders. To refuse to bow down to this statue caused them to face the wrath of an egotistical, evil man. But, he was just a man. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, knew God's Word and they knew that His very first command was to put NO OTHER GODS before Him and worship no other. They knew God intimately because they prayed, worshipped and spent time with Him. They remembered the great things He had done for their Nation and knew of His power and so just a man who happened to be their king and boss really didn't scare them much considering that if they had worshipped that statue they would have faced the wrath of God -- a seemingly greater force to reckon with. I like their resolve -- respectfully they said, Oh king, we really don't need to discuss this matter with you - for if you throw us into the furnace we know that our God is able to deliver us and protect us from that fire's destruction -- but if He chooses not to, it won't change our behavior in worshipping your statue...we will not bow down to it.
The lesson here is that we have to make a decision in our walk with God. We must base that decision on God and God alone and not our circumstances, outcome or future. We must trust God regardless of what is going on inside, outside or around us. We must believe He is good and He is God and that He always acts for the greater good regardless of the cost. That is maturity in our faith. If we can come to this place in our walk with God - then loss or facing the loss of property, people or possessions will not change Who we worship.
In their refusal to worship the statue, these men were bound tightly. They had absolutely no control over their circumstances. Have you ever felt like that? Ever been in a situation where you couldn't fix it no matter how hard you tried? Did it shake your faith at it's very foundation? This is a great visual of the same situation. I'm sure those of you who are reading this who may have experienced those great storms last week can truly relate to feeling completely out of control of your destiny and circumstances. So many of us are bound so tightly by bad choices, attitudes, past hurts, wounds and unforgiveness that we have literally stunted our growth as Christians. This is bondage and by letting the enemy take hold of our minds, thoughts and actions, we have assisted him in taking on those bindings - those ropes and chains that paralyze us. Sometimes, our circumstances have nothing to do with our personal choices - they are affected by others. Whether it's caring for an aging parent, sick loved one, small children or teenagers - or - whether its living next to a neighbor who gets on your last nerve or being a member of a very dysfunctional family or maybe it's a job loss, difficult work environment, unfaithful or unreasonable spouse - we may not have the ability to change these situations - but we don't have to bow down and let them defeat us. There's nothing sadder than a Christian who has lost their resolve. Sometimes things get so hard, we want to give up - that's when we dig in and fight harder. It's when we let go of control and relinquish our will to God as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did in saying - we believe He can deliver us - BUT IF HE DOESN'T - it won't change who we worship.
Notice the next scene where there are 4 men in the fire. They are unbound and unharmed - only 3 were thrown in the fire and yet the 4th one appears to be a divine being. We may be in the midst of a fiery trial or a dry wilderness and may feel isolated and alone - but my friends, we are never alone if we have Christ. He has sent His Comforter...the Holy Spirit - a divine being - to fulfill His promise to never leave or forsake us. And if we are in the fires of life - guess what? HE's right there with us.
They are unbound and unharmed. The fire caused the bondage to burn off. If we want to be free from the bondage of sin, we will go through suffering, trials, fire, tests. This isn't punishment, though it may feel as though it is - this is the process of sanctification -- becoming more like Jesus -- loosing our bondage, freeing us to walk in fullness by refining us to be more like Him. Boiling our "stuff" out of us so that we can come out on the other side stronger and purer and more useful. If God is dealing with your "issues or stuff" right now, please don't rush this process - let him dig deep and carve out those deep hurts - you'll be the better for it on the other side if you're willing.
In the last scene, we see King Nebuchadnezzar with a change of attitude -- the confidence that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego showed in God not only preserved their lives, but brought them protection in the fire, released them from their bondage and also changed the heart of a king and the attitude of a nation -- it turned the focus off of a golden statue and on to the One who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Three men who confidently believed in God and trusted Him beyond their circumstances received promotion in their positions of leadership - God blessed them materially because of their faithfulness and commitment to Him. Three men didn't let fear paralyze them in holding fast to their commitment to worship only God -- God blessed them by freeing them from bondage, preserving their lives and walking with them in the fire which was 7 times hotter than normal - 7 marks the fullness of God in the Bible. Three men confidently and respectfully refused to worship an idol but instead were honest with the king and trusted God in His fullness - God blessed them and changed the heart of a king and a nation because of it.
Never doubt that there's a ripple effect on those we influence in the choices we make. It can be a good ripple or a bad ripple. If we choose to operate in fear and allow our circumstances or old habits or weaknesses to control us - we can pass down these behaviors to the generation that follows us and it will continue to the next and the next unless someone rises up and agrees with God to do the work. We might cause someone to stumble in their walk with God or turn their back on Him if we waiver in our trust and depend on our circumstances rather than God's Word to guide us.
We have a choice -- Choose this day, who you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Dear friend, will you choose this day to trust God and let His peace, which surpasses understanding be your guide in tough times? Just as seasons come and seasons go - fiery circumstances come and go too. If we are willing to walk through the fire and trust God when the heat cranks up 7 times hotter - we will emerge without burn or blemish and without even smelling of smoke into God's fullness. We will be stronger, purer and more useful to God in the next season and more mature in our walk with Him. Let's resolve today not to bow down but to trust God to deliver us - BUT IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO - we still will not bow down.
Until tomorrow - be blessed...not stressed! Amy
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