Walking through the fire with Jesus

In Daniel Chapter 3 we see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego standing when every one else bowed. Many of us heard this story as children but do we understand the pressure they faced? Too many times we give into people because we do not want to offend them or we just find that it is easier to get along. Sometimes though we are in situations where we have no choice but to take a stand and even suffer for following Christ.

In Daniel 3 we see a King who built an image of himself for everyone to worship and even gave the command to worship the golden image or be killed. (3:6) What I wonder is how many of us would have just given in to the Kings orders instead of standing? Some of our excuses would have been: "I have a family to support", "If I die then who is going to tell these people about God?", or what I believe many Christians would say,"What is the big deal? I do not believe in it so how can it hurt?"

What price am I willing to pay for Christ? What situations am I willing to walk through for Him? Does being a Christ follower have multiple choices and each christian gets to pick and choose what they want to walk through?

Daniel 3:16-18 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Am I willing to follow God even if He does not come through for me? Am I willing to suffer for the sake of Christ. What if they would have used one of the excuses listed above? What if they would have given into the pressure and bowed? As they were being tied up they still had the chance to yell out that they would bow down and escape what looked like certain death. The ongoing desire to give in must have been pressure that ran through their minds over and over again. What kept them strong? What made them Stand? What made them willing to die if that is what they had to do as followers of God?

Daniel 3:24-25 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

How cool was that? They were walking around a hot furnace with Jesus. (How big was this furnace?) I can imagine them talking to Jesus and when they were being called out Jesus told them to go because they probably wanted to stay there with Him.

At the end of the story we see how the whole nation was turned toward God because of these three men who were willing to sacrifice their lives to follow God. (3:28)

What about you? What fires are you walking through that seem too much for you to handle? Are you trying to escape them or walk with Jesus through them? What are your excuses to get out of them? What if God wants to use you to walk through a difficult time in order for others to see Jesus walking with you? What price are you willing to pay to have others claim as Nebuchadnezzar did "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.