Tag: religion

Daily Word

Daniel 3

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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.

Daily Word

James 1

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Read James 1 – Wow!  This is so good!

James addresses how to handle trials (:2-4), faith and double-mindedness (:5-7), poverty and wealth (:9-11)… I could go on and on, but let the verses speak to you.  Trusting the Holy Spirit to awaken your heart to what’s important for you today.

Enjoy this short chapter, be strengthened, convicted and encouraged by these good and perfect gifts that come down from our Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows. (my paraphrase of :17).

Daily Word

Mark 3

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Reflections on Mark 3 – Oh tragedy, the religious have lost their way! Religion is such a foul word to most believers. In Mark 3 we begin to see where it missed the mark in Jesus’s day.  

Mark 3 begins with Jesus entering the synagogue and discovering a man with a shriveled hand.  

Beloved,  notice how Jesus goes straight to the impossible.   Are there areas of your life that are impossible, but for Jesus?

In :2, we see the religious men are watching Jesus to see if they can accuse him.   According to their religious interpretation, healing on the Sabbath was considered working and therefore, illegal. Fortunately, our Jesus does not hold such a legalistic view of His own Word. Jesus is all about restoration, mercy, grace and love.   The fact that those entrusted to represent the Word of God were anything but angered Him,  :5.  Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand. 

Beloved,  this is where our part comes in. The man might have told Jesus he couldn’t because his hand was shriveled, but instead he did the impossible, trusting if Jesus told him to stretch it out that he would be able to. The impossible is possible with Jesus. Can you think of any areas of your life where you are holding back? Do you have excuses why Jesus can’t heal things because….

In verse :7-10 we see a problem developing as people from everywhere heard about the healings and wanted their own to the point where Jesus had a boat ready, lest the crowd crush Him.   People pushed in for healing without care for who Jesus was or what he came to do. 

Beloved, soul’s are eternal, infirmities are not. Many more incredible things happen in our chapter.   What was your favorite?  Were any hard to wrap your head around?   It’s okay to have questions, but pursue answers, always remembering that God is good. 

Enjoy chapter 4 next.