Can Your Faith Handle the Fire? ( Focus on Daniel 3)

From the story of Daniel

At that, the king flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him. He said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you refuse to worship my god and to bow down to the gold statue I have set up? Now then, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, oboes, lyres, zithers, harps, and all the other instruments, bow down and worship the statue. If you do not, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. Do you think there is any god who can save you?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered, “Your Majesty, we will not try to defend ourselves. If the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power, then he will. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:13-18 GNB)

The faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was so deeply rooted in God that it enabled them to boldly stand tall and against the crowd when everyone else bowed. They knew the fate the king had in store for them as a result of their stand for God, but they were willing to put their faith to the test. A faith that’s tested by fire is a faith that can be trusted. Think about your life for a moment. Can your faith handle the fire you’re enduring? Maybe you’re enduring unanswered prayer, the loss of a loved one, or betrayal by another. These types of situations can rock the foundation of our faith and put our faith to the fire.

When you find your faith being tested by fire, there are three things to remember. First, obey God’s commands instead of man’s expectations. The king and his people expected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to bow, but instead they followed God’s command and stood tall. The second thing to remember is to believe God’s truth instead of the facts. The facts were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be killed if they didn’t bow, but God’s truth said they would not be harmed for standing up for Him. Finally, believe God. Don’t just believe in God.

As you finish reading and praying today, ask yourself: How is my faith being tested by fire? What’s one thing I can do today to help me endure the fire with courage?