Tag: Daniel 3:24-25
Day 5–Jesus With You In the Fire
Scripture reading for June 12: Daniel 3:24-25 “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
Have you ever had a day when it felt like you were thrown into a fiery furnace with no way out? Possibly the enemy of your soul painted a picture of consuming flames and humiliating defeat. You chose to stand firm in faith, not knowing for sure how it would end for you. But God’s presence took you through the leaping flames and brought you out of the furnace without even a smell of smoke.
This was the case of three young Hebrew men who refused to bow in worship to an idol set up by the king of Babylon. They were threatened with a painful death in flames of fire if they would not bow and worship the idol. They were mocked by the king for trusting their ‘god’ to deliver them. But they chose to fear God, Who could also cast their souls into a real eternal hell, instead of fearing man who could only kill their bodies. God miraculously delivered them and also revealed His love and mercy to the king of Babylon by allowing him to see a fourth man in the fire and hear the young men’s testimony.
When we choose to put our lives in God’s hands, He then can use everything, good or evil, for His purposes and glory. This principle is comforting for those in emergency services where we sometimes face these fiery trials that threaten our faith and confidence. We need reminded that God is ever-present in our time of trial and is with us in the fire. He will work out everything for our good and His glory.
Prayer: Father God, I am thankful for the assurance that I am never alone when I find myself in the midst of a fiery trial. By faith, I can trust You that You will work out all for good to all involved. Strengthen my faith each day as I walk with You through the fire. Amen.
The Father’s Keeping Power
Scripture reading for November 15th: Daniel 1-3, Psalm 88, John 17
John 17: 11-16 “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, which you have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are One. While I was with them, I kept them in Your Name, which You have given Me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them safe from the evil one.”
Jesus closed His final message to His disciples with a prayer that had petitions for Himself, His disciples, and all who would believe in Him throughout the ages through their message. Jesus emphasized that He was returning to heaven. His disciples would still be in the world for a time but they were not of this world, just as He was not of this world. These disciples belonged in heaven. Jesus appealed to His Father for keeping power for these precious followers from the tricks and traps of the evil one. He had given the disciples His Father’s Word and His Name to use as major weapons against the powers of this world. The Holy Father would exalt His Name and His Word to sanctify them, protecting them from the fiery trials of this world and bring them to their heavenly home!
Daniel 3:24-25 “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.””
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for this prayer for us from Your Amazing Son! Thank You for Your powerful Word which sanctifies us and makes us clean and empowers us with the sword of the Spirit. Thank You for the Name of Jesus and heaven’s authority to ask You for help in the fiery trials of life in this world. As the men in the fiery furnace, walk with us and keep us from harm and evil! Amen!
Psalm 88:1-3 “O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.”