Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Listen to the Word
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. (Daniel 3:17-18)

This week’s Scripture records the bold commitment of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three children of God lived in exile in a foreign land. They loved the Lord more than they loved their own lives. Because of their faith in God, they recklessly chose to defy the absolute ruler of the world’s only superpower at the time. King Nebuchadnezzar built a huge golden statue and ordered all of his people to bow down to it or be burned to death. They refused to bow. They were tossed into a fiery furnace. And they were rescued by the real King.

We often say that it was the faith of these three young men that got them out of the furnace, and I suppose that is true. But it was also their faith that got them thrown into the furnace in the first place. When was the last time your faith got you in trouble?

Live the Word
What would it cost you to fully live out your faith in your everyday life? Ask God to help you see why you are unwilling to pay that price. Ask him to change you so that other priorities won’t keep you from living for him.