Daniel 3

Read Daniel 3 – Forced religion meets true faith and courage – Chapter 3 is a picture of forced religion. The king determined he was to be worshipped by everyone; he determined how he was to be worshipped and set his demands against the threat of death. Our God is nothing like that – Hallelujah!

The true and living Lord Jesus Christ takes the risk of freewill with every soul. That is love. Jesus died for all, but only those who say yes to Salvation and invite him in as Lord and Savior are saved.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are called out for refusing to bow down. Verses 13-15 fascinate me. The supreme ruler of Babylon himself, King Neb (can we call him that moving forward? Nebuchadnezzar is kind of a mouthful in our generation), is furious, yet calls the three before him and offers a second chance. They respond with a level of valor that must have shocked him, “We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it…” :17

I pray you did not read the next part casually as one is apt to do in the face of miracles. Scripture records that King Neb’s face was changed… fury had taken over. The king ordered the fire so hot that even the guards that walked the bound threesome up to the furnace burned up! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not burn up though… verses 24-27 record that they were unscathed, even their garmets were untouched by smoke or flame, and that there was a fourth man in the fire with them.

WHO WAS THE FOURTH MAN? My heart screams JESUS!!! King Neb said he saw four men loosed… so the fire burnt only the ropes that bound them.

Beloved, consider that one day there will be an anti-christ who requires the worship of all people. We all know and even love people who will not fall under the protection of Jesus in the wicked days to come. Even after the church is raptured, there will be second chances for a short time. Tell them about Daniel and his friends and pray they remember and are counted among the faithful.