October 11, 2024

Daniel 3:14-18  (HCSB)
14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

Tammy Perkins
The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is very familiar to me. I grew up in Sunday School learning about the characters in the Bible that loved God and obeyed Him no matter the consequence and these gentlemen are among my favorite. I was probably 8 years old when I heard this story for the first time. It amazed me that they obeyed God and didn't bow down to the king's idols even though they knew that they would be thrown in the fiery furnace. I can't imagine a more horrible way to die and couldn't believe that these guys would choose this over such an easy alternative. I didn't understand their love and devotion to God or their willingness to make a stand for Him. They knew, even in the Old Testament, that their eternity was secure no matter what happened with King Nebuchadnezzar. They were sure that God would physically save them from the fire, but even if they died in the fire, they knew they would be with God forever and that was worth the pain they may feel temporarily. My prayer is that I can have this kind of boldness in the face of certain suffering! I am also impressed with how these men treated Nebuchadnezzar. They didn't treat him with disrespect or malice. They didn't whine or complain about the position they were in. They simply obeyed God and went about their day. If only I could follow their example in my life each day.