Certainty in the Fire
Daily Old Testament Reading: Daniel 3
Daily Focus Passage: Daniel 3-6
Daniel 3 tells of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego facing the fiery furnace because of their faith. As we read what occurs to these three men, we must understand that as followers of Christ, we will face moments of fire. Still, in these moments, we experience God's faithfulness and find ourselves serving him and standing in confidence as we ponder this event. May we recognize the certainty of faith, the certainty of calamity, and the certainty of God's presence?
CERTAINTY of FAITH
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the moment of decision. Would they remain faithful to God or bow to an earthly king? These three men demonstrated certainty because of their faith in the Lord. They readily faced the punishment of an earthly king to remain faithful to the King of Kings. They refused to bow to an earthly king because they knew that all glory, praise, and honor were reserved for the Lord. They face the moment of disobedience on this earth because of the certainty of their faith in the eternal guide. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrate the importance of living in the certainty of faith because of who God is. They show how we must stand firm with conviction because of our certainty in God.
CERTAINTY of CALAMITY
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained faithful to the Lord as they faced the certainty of calamity. Because of their faith, these three men knew that to disobey King Nebuchadnezzar meant they faced entering the fiery furnace. The fire would rage all around them, but these three men faced the certainty of calamity in the certainty of their faith. The certainty of their faith drove them to stand when an earthly king demanded them to bow. The certainty of faith allowed them to face the coming calamity of the fiery furnace because they trusted in God; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the catastrophe of the fiery furnace in a manner that exemplified a life completely surrendered and faithful to the Lord. When we consider how they faced the furnace, do we find that we face calamity, trials, and heartache with our faith? Do we trust? Whether life or death, we are in the hands of the Lord.
CERTAINTY of PRESENCE
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God's faithfulness during the fire. As Nebuchadnezzar ordered these three men to be cast into the fiery furnace, they faced this moment of calamity with the certainty that God was with them; God had strengthened them to stand against the orders of an earthly king, and now they trusted that God would be with them in the fire.
As Nebuchadnezzar ordered the fire to be elevated seven times, He had these three men cast into the furnace. Yet as Nebuchadnezzar gazed into the stove, he saw 4 individuals and not 3. The presence of the 4th individual teaches us the truth that God is with us in the fire he provides for us. He works with us and with his presence to be with us. When we live with a certainty of faith and face the calamities that come, we can know that God's presence is with us. He walks with us before the fire, in the fire, and after the fire. As a result, the presence of God throughout life allows us to reveal his goodness, faithfulness, and presence to the world. Are you prepared to face the certainty of calamity that comes?
