Fiery Furnaces

Dear Love Bugs,

The reason this song is on repeat lately is simple. In my morning study I am reading the book of Peter.  From chapter one on Monday, I've been drawn in. " 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

At bible study today we read about King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel, chapter 3.  He made this huge statue of gold and demanded when people heard the sound of music that they stop and bow down to the statue.  There were three men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who paid no attention to him. They neither served his gods nor worshipped the image of gold the king had set up. So the king was outraged and demanded the men be brought to them, which they were.  Even after being confronted by the king, they did not waver.  They refused to compromise their beliefs and bow down and worship the king's god. So the king threw them into a fiery furnace for death after mocking them, "Will your God save you from death?"

The crazy thing is, God did save them--soon enough the king saw before his very eyes that the three men were walking around the fiery furnace accompanied by what looked to be an angel or the son of God.  There was no evidence of the fire burning them.  The king was so amazed! 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

There will be times in our life when we are called to take a stand.  If we cave in and compromise on the small things, we will eventually cave in and compromise on the large ones.  It is better to be left out than to compromise our standards and be left out of the kingdom of God later on.  Let that sink in kiddos:  it is better to be left out than to compromise our standards and be left out of the kingdom of God later on.  

The devil is deceitful.  He knows our weaknesses and preys on them.  We are his target.  He will offer it all to you, but it is up to you to not bow down!  Fear not, God says choose the furnace.  You will learn things in the fiery furnace that you can not learn in any other place.  Remember that God works all things for good and our ways are not His ways.  Keep the faith: if He brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

The world is watching you.  Our life is on display.  William Dyer said, "Fiery trials make golden Christians."  Don't come out of the furnace with bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy. . .let Him deliver you.  There is hope in Him and Him alone.