Daniel 3:19-21

-Meditation-

Daniel 3:19-21

--TheSecretPlace--

Yo.

Today I am excited to say that I am going to continue my posting on Daniel 3, and I don't know what all of you think of it, but I am absolutely loving this passage of scripture!!

What happens in this whole chapter up to verse 21 is this...

King Nebuchadnezzar makes an image, and tells everyone to worship it, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow down and worship it, and they took their stand in faithfulness to Jesus, and the king didn't like it, and he was furious with them, and didn't like them anymore because in their obedience to our/their God they were disobeying him, and refused to do what he commanded. So king Nebuchadnezzar made the guards heat up the furnace 7 times hotter than usual, and commanded his strongest soldiers to bind up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace, and Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego without defending themselves were thrown into the furnace.

This just blows me away! In so many different ways!!! I am truly amazed.

Firstly I want to take notice of how even though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that they were going to be thrown into the furnace (unless God caused something to happen) they remained faithful to Jesus with no doubt that they were in the will of God-which was their concern. They did not fear the threats, or persecution of the king, because they knew that if they obeyed king Nebuchadnezzar instead of the King of Glory their punishment was going to be eternal--A LOT worse than just a really hot furnace. They would have rather been punished by man than GOD. They had cultivated a fear of the LORD-1 thing that so many, including king Nebuchadnezzar- lacked greatly.

How do you stand in the face of persecution, in the time where you can choose to make a fool of yourself, or remain normal like everyone else?

I am proud to say that even as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood for the LORD, we can stand for Him with faithful hearts, just as they did. If it is your desire to do that-to stand for Jesus, then you have to make the choice everyday to serve, and worship God, rather than any other thing that sets itself up to take the place of God in your life, and your heart. We must get rid of anything that hinders love, and make ourselves pure and holy to the LORD.

Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego we are sometimes thrown into 'blazing hot furnaces' when we stand for Jesus. Whatever your persecution is, whether it is being gossiped about, or slandered, or being physically persecuted the LORD sees you, and He doesn't leave us during times of persecution, during loneliness, when all of your friends leave you because you choose to follow God instead of doing what is wrong, but instead He walks with you, and by you in the fire.

Continuing on that, I want to talk about how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with persecution, and how what was coming sounded horrible, and nasty, and painful yet they had confidence that the reward from the LORD in heaven was so much better than any persecution we could endure on this earth. Their minds were on heaven, and they trusted that they were in Gods hand no matter what. IN THE SAME WAY even though the walk is hard, the reward is GREAT, and Jesus smiles at us when we choose Him, even when faced with pain. He knows how hard it can be sometimes, and He is praying for us to choose Him even though it hurts sometimes, and the truth is that there is way more pain coming to those who reject Him, than those who accept, and love HIM.

So BE ENCOURAGED to continue to run the race, and seek HIS face.

Be blessed, and I hope that you will continue to press into the LORD when it is hard to, and when you don't want to.

---Intercession---

Father God, I just want to come to You right now on behalf of all who are reading this, and all of Your people on earth, and I just ask that you would give them understanding and faith to endure what is hard in order to get the greatest reward. And I pray also that You would just reveal Jesus to us in new ways, and in the power of Your Holy Spirit I pray that You would fill us, and strengthen us to seek You, and to trust you through the hard times, and even through the worst persecution. Thank You that You are always with us, and that you are helping us to love You more. I love You LORD, and just pray that you would continue to reveal yourself to me, and to others as we read Your Word.

Love You, Bless You LORD, In Jesus Name. Amen.

Blessing to the LORD!

Kasey