Faith While Facing the Fire!

We admire the courage of martyrs in scripture and in history, men and women who stood up for their faith even in the face of death. If you are like me, you thank God that we don’t live in such times. I have heard several people say that we are blessed to live in a time and place where we are free to worship as we please; but I feel this is a time to remind ourselves of the need to be ever prayerfully thankful for current blessings and prayerfully petitioning for a continuation of these blessings in our lives.

On October 1, 2015, there was yet another tragic shooting in a school. What was different about this incident was a report that the shooter asked, ‘Are you a Christian?’, and if you’re a Christian, stand up. And they would stand up and he said, ‘Good, because you’re a Christian, you are going to see God in just about one second.’ And then he shot and killed them,”.

Reportedly, if they said “no” or didn’t answer, he shot them in the leg.

I remembered this incident when I was reading the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. These men stood up in the face of what should have been certain death.

Daniel 3:13-18 King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

¹⁵ Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

¹⁷ 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.

¹⁸ 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.  (emphasis added)

Yahweh-Rohi, I prayerfully ask Your protection as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”. I also prayerfully ask Your strength as we face dangers seen and unseen.

I thank You for all that You do.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!