Daily
Reading: Daniel 3:19 – 23
Why do the heathen rage, and the
people imagine a vain thing?
Psalm
2:1
The world never understands a man
fully surrendered to God. Sadly, often
the church does not understand that man either.
At times even a man’s family falls into this same category. Paul reminds
us in II Timothy 3:12, "Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.” We are not always prepared for where the persecution
will come from. It will come from friend and foe alike in varying degrees of
hostility.
Nebuchadnezzar’s hostility manifested
as sheer rage. The unwavering faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
infuriated Nebuchadnezzar. His ultimatum had been clear…bow or burn, and in
that moment, these men of God did not even flinch. Their faithfulness exposed
the limited power and unlimited pride of the king. His pride could not handle
their defiance.
Blinded by his rage, he began making
unrealistic and unreasonable demands. Seemingly unable to stop him, or maybe sharing
his rage, men obeyed and heated the furnace seven times hotter than it was
built to withstand. Scripture tells us pride goes before a fall. These men were
baking in their own destruction, and they never saw it coming until it was too
late! Nebuchadnezzar’s wants and
desires, driven by fury, and coupled with a seat of power destroyed the men
around him…those closest to him.
When a man fully surrendered to God is forced to confront men
in power who are not, the friction and pressure will most certainly produce
heat. Just as the fire did not consume these three men, neither will our trials
consume us! Let us be men who have the strength of our convictions when we face
the pressure to bow to culture, temptation, fear, or anything that stands
against the uncompromising authority of Scripture.
No comments:
Post a Comment