January 19, 2022

by Kimberly Hobbs 

EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:
As we had the post about the fire and my parent’s woodstove just a few days ago, today’s devotion from Dana Cryer is a perfect addition.
Has the heat been turned up higher than usual in your life?
I love the story about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had no fear at all of King Nebuchadnezzar.  He was threatening everyone that didn’t fall down and worship him stating they will be thrown into a blazing furnace to be burned alive.
The 3 refuse to worship Nebuchadnezzar or his statue. Of course, the king went into rage at this act of defiance.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; he commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more.
The 3 men were bound in their coats and other garments and cast into the burning fiery furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar is amazed to find that the 3 men are not consumed by the flames but they were probably laughing because the king was so mad. They didn’t even feel the heat- totally unharmed.
Then Nebuchadnezzar sees a fourth figure with them. He answered and said, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, the fourth form is like the Son of God.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and then told them to come out of the furnace.
What Nebuchadnezzar witnessed was a MIRACLE! The miracle proves that the Jewish men spoke the truth when they told the king that their God would ‘DELIVER’ them from death in the fiery furnace.
Again, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted and worshipped God resolutely no matter what happened.
May their experience inspire all of us to stay true to God just the same.  All that matters is for the LORDand we should always be willing to stand firm in our faith.
I’ve always said that our lives as a child of God are a WIN WIN.
Let us stay so true to our Father God because He has the very best for us as we’re on this journey to our heavenly home.
Blessings,
Dana Cryer guest writer,
San Antonio, Texas.