Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Reflect
The fire was so hot those that were dropping Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego in were killed from the heat. That is just how hot the temper was of the king. Then, these three Israelites were just marching around in the fire with a fourth being that appeared to be a God. They were not trying to get away or out the door. They were not trying to get away from the heat of the raging fire. They were untouched by the fire. They waited until King Nebuchadnezzar called for them to come out. Then they walked out unsinged and not even smelling like fire.
When we get in a heated situation, we often start looking for a way out. We do not march around in the middle of the fire waiting for the person that put us in the heated situation to change their minds and invite us out of the situation. God was with them and God is with us in the hot places we find ourselves. God is also with us in the cold situations. God is always with us, so we may just need to march around in the hard situations in which we find ourselves until we too are called out of them.
Pray
Dear God, life can be very heated and consuming. It can overwhelm us. When we are facing the flames of life, help us to see and follow you right through the middle of the flames. We know and believe you will deliver us. Amen.
Go with God!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.