Day 7: With Jesus, The Fire of Trials Has No Power Over Me

In an era when the most powerful ruler in the world at that time can have anyone killed at will for the slightest form of disobedience to a decree, three young men showed us what faith in God looks like and how God honors such faith and changes the system of an entire kingdom.

Nebuchadnezzar had decreed that everyone must bow down and worship the gold image he made. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah who had been renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego stood up in faith and defied the king’s order in the face of sure death by burning in a furnace.

Listen to how radical faith sounds like.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

DANIEL 3:16-18, NKJV

These three were thrown into a furnace heated seven times more than usual that the ones who brought them in were themselves killed by the flame yet the fire had no power over the three because the pre-incarnate Christ, the Son of God, Himself came to stand with them in the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar decreed that no one under his rule should say anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego effectively giving the exiled Jews in Babylon at that time their freedom to worship the God of Israel.

The system of the world will often require us to compromise and go down to the level of its standards.

In today’s context, every born again believer has a choice to stand on the word of God or compromise in favor of socio-economic pressures.

A compromising born again believer will enjoy the goodwill of men but a real born again believer who stands up in the face of the world’s pressure experiences the grand display of the presence of The Lord and His power to let the fire lose its power over them. They get to experience The Lord changing society and culture through them.

Reflection Question:

Do you know that as a born again believer, unlike the three young men who had the Son of God standing in their midst, you actually have the Son of God dwelling in you?

You don’t need to compromise and give in to the pressure of society’s norm and culture. He who lives in you is greater than he who is in the world. The Lord will see you through.

Radical Faith in Action:

The world and its system will always put you to a fiery trial. Dont be afraid to stand up with the righteousness of God in you in Christ Jesus.

The fire and hate that the world will throw at you will fall flat on the ground — it has no power on you because the Spirit of Jesus, The Man who went through fire for you, lives in you.