April 7 | Daniel 3:17-18
“If this is so, our God we serve is able to rescue us from the blazing fire of the furnace and rescue us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king that we will not serve or pay homage to the golden statue that you have set up.”” (Daniel 3:17–18)
We don’t treat marriage like God does. In the Old Testament, even when Israel failed their covenant Husband, King Yahweh never gave up on them. Hosea lived out this loyalty and love from God to Gomer, His wife. The divorce rate in America is at least 50% of all marriages.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew the official law of Avalon, that you’re not they had to bow down before a golden image. But this went against their faith. The penalty was death in a fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar was so angry He commanded the furnace to be seven times hotter than usual.
They didn’t know if God would save them. That didn’t matter. Their commitment and loyalty to God was worth more than their lives. In Revelation, Christians did not love their lives above loyalty to Jesus.
Can you say the same? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had such a strong faith and loyal love for God that they didn’t care about their lives. They were living examples of God’s goodness. God came through for them. Jesus appeared with them as the fourth man in the fire. They were not harmed, but the king’s servants who threw them in died instantly.
Action Step: Set in your mind to stand for Jesus no matter what. Ask Him for the strength and courage to follow through when you are tested.
Jesus, give me a hard-core loyal love for You. I want to have the same fortitude Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had. Give me the strength to face persecution and scrutiny for you today.
