“At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews….
“Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?’
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” Daniel 3:8,13-18
Because God was able to deliver them, the brave young Jewish exiles were readily willing to trust Him and their lives to His keeping, and were steadfastly unwilling to sin. Their allegiance was fixed and would not be shaken, no matter how maliciously threatened or tested. Since God was willing to be their God, they were willing to say a wholehearted yes to Him over any demand.
Nebuchadnezzar’s rage escalated when they did not relent, and he ordered the determined young men be bound and thrown into an even hotter furnace. Fury turned to fear when he witnessed a fourth walking in the fire with them, and all unbound and unhurt. “Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.'” (Daniel 3:19-28)
Many situations we encounter will test what we are willing or unwilling to do. Each choice is grounded in what we believe about God, and how much we trust Him to be who He says He is. When we worship, fear, and serve only Him as supreme and sovereign King, He will come first before any threat, temptation, or idol.
How well do we know God and all He’s willing to do for us? How willing are we to know Him better? Do we trust Him enough above our fears, doubts, and outside pressures that we’re unwilling to betray Him? He is able to make all grace abound to us so we have sufficiency in all things! He is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before His glory! His willingness to defend and supply for us should engender hearty willingness to stand with Him! (Romans 8:31-34; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Jude 1:24)
Lord on high, keep me ever willing to trust You above any other. Willing to give Your all for me, You are worthy of my sole devotion.
As the rain and snow 