“Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn.., if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’
“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with [them], 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 [them] up 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…
“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, Your Majesty.’
“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 [they] came… 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.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has… rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God… No other god can save in this way.’” Daniel 3:14-21,24-29
Fully clad in flammable garb, bound with ropes and holy resolve, three courageous men were thrown into the judgment fire. They’d refused to disclaim their God and worship another, so according to the king’s edict, they should die. God, whose eye was on them in love, delivered. Their faith in Him gave proof to His power, mercy, and majestic salvation.
The enemy and the world constantly elicit our worship, demanding we bow before a variety of images and causes we may not even recognize as idols. Though we might refuse, the age-old taunt plants doubt, ‘Is it really true?’ The test to succumb in fear or stand firm in faith necessitates a choice of who to believe.
What makes us cave to fearing man over God? To what threats or fears does weak faith succumb? Only He is worthy of our allegiance, only He can save us from sin and weakness. Will we magnify and stand in Him?
Lord, cause me to worship and trust You alone.
As the rain and snow 