Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Through the fire...


Daniel 3:19-27

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 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 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, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
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, O king."
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."
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, 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.

Okay, WOW...I am blown away by this passage. I've read it so many times and never noticed that the only thing that was burned in the fire: their bonds. Ropes? Chains? Message to me as I go through the fire : (Jn. 16:33 In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.") When the Lord is in the fire with me and I am with Him, the only thing that gets permanently burned is my bondage!

Notice that the account above does not say that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego saw the fourth man in the fire...so often it does not 'feel' like the Lord is with us when we are in the fire...but as we walk through the fire in faith, others see Jesus!

Thank you, Lord for your POWERFUL Word. You are amazing. May we receive grace from You to walk by faith that we may please you! You are worthy!

Wish I could take credit for this insight...I am studying Daniel with a GREAT bunch of godly ladies (Bree Reno, Diane Williams, Kristi Lambrecht, Pam Lutterman, Margaret Kaspar, Mary Anderson). We are using Beth Moore's study called 'Daniel, Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophesy'. I highly recommend it!

1 comment:

julie martin said...

thanks for sharing that insight with us! so glad you have a group of women to study and grow with and how cool that one of the women is your own loin fruit!