In The Fire

Read Daniel 3:13-18... Go ahead, read it. I'll wait...

Now that you read that passage, you will know where I am taking this blog to. 😉

The three Hebrew boys are known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the Bible. They were enslaved by King Nebuchadnezzar because Isreal had turned from God. These boys were some of the few that still served God. Yes, while in captivity, God still had a remnant that chose to follow Him no matter what. 

This king liked the Hebrew boys. In fact, they were in high regard to the king and part of his counsel. So, when he listened to those that didn't like the Hebrews (the Chaldeans), all those that followed after God were in danger, even the three Hebrew boys. 

Nebuchadnezzar built a tall image at the suggestion of some of the Chaldeans, which had evil intent in their hearts. The king had put out a decree that when music was played, EVERYONE was to bow down and worship this image. Well, the Hebrew boys decided that they weren't going to do such a thing, as they only worshipped the one TRUE God. When the king heard this, he was raged. Mind you, these Hebrew boys were liked by the king. So, the king was even more upset that someone close to him would not listen to his commands. 

He had them brought in front of him and told them what would happen if they didn't do what he commanded. And they pretty much said, "do what you will. We will not worship anything but our God and He will save us from this fire... BUT if He doesn't we still will not serve your gods."

And into the fire, they went... 

But when they were thrown into the fire, Nebuchadnezzar said that he saw a fourth person. Wait...What?! A fourth person?! God allowed the three Hebrew boys to go through this literal fire to show the king who He was. (Now that is a message in itself, but for another time.)

This is where I want to encourage you today. As we walk in this Christan life, we will come to some situations that will put us in the fire, if we chose to walk with God and serve Him in those moments. But we have to find true JOY in this walk with God, otherwise, when we come to these moments, we may falter. But if we truly find JOY in our walk, we will protect it at any cost. 

I have a friend that is going through this "fire" right now. She was serving God and walking in His ways, and then all of a sudden, her life took a turn that looked for the worse. But when God revealed that this challenge was from Him, she know she could weather it. So, when breast cancer turned to legions on her brain, it didn't look good. Then an internal infection caused sepsis which lead her to spend some time in the hospital, it looked even worse. And when you look at this situation you might think, "Why would God bring on such a situation, especially to someone that is living faithfully for Him?" The short answer (In my opinion) is He trusted her and her husband!! Yes, God trusted them to not falter. And if you talk to her, she will bring YOU encouragement, even in all that she is going through. God had placed her on this path to reach all those around her, to show His grace, power, and LOVE to everyone that she meets. She is giving hope to those that might now have hope. She is showing faith to those that might be weak in faith. She is reaching those that she would normally not have reached if she had not gone through this fire. If you ask, she will tell you that she might be weak in body, but she is over-the-top in her faith!! 

She has not just encouraged me but has also built my faith and given me more hope.

But what it really comes down to is that she trusted God... But also, God is trusting her to stand strong through the fire.... To bring those around her to HIM. 

Truly trust in Him, so that He can trust you in any situation. So, if you are going through a situation, maybe it's that God trusts you with such a task to show Him to others around you.