We will all end up in some fire, hot water, or lion's den at some point in our lives.
If we follow Jesus, are sent by Jesus, or answer the call of Jesus, we are most likely to get in some sort of trouble for it. May it be what Congressman John Lewis called, "good trouble."
What common themes are emerging for your life?
GOD IS ABLE
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”- Daniel 3:16-18
“… If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me..” - Luke 9:23
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us ….” - Ephesians 3:20
The Hebrew children would have readily said “amen” to the words of Jesus. And they knew the reality of Paul’s declaration of faith in the power of God to deliver. But they also could identify with the words of Esther when challenged by Mordecai, “If I perish, I perish.”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood that there are some things far more important that safety and security. Those concerns and the fear that we might somehow be harmed or killed too often govern us. For them, the integrity of their faith came first. Their loyalty was to God, the Almighty, and nothing that any man could do to them could deter them from their commitments.
Our God is great and powerful. He is a faithful God who stands by His people. The demands of discipleship are enormous, but God places even greater demands upon Himself. To remain faithful to Himself, He is faithful to His people. For every cross and every furnace, He is present. He never leaves or forsakes us. He does not stand aloof from our struggles and is not powerless to deliver. We can trust God enough to submit our lives to Him.
