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Burning Passion for God

Writer's picture: East Martin CRCEast Martin CRC

Daniel 3:18-30

Verse 28  Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “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.

 

    We ended yesterday with the statement “But even if He does not…”  Today we will look at how that kind of faith and surrender to God’s will bring others to see God for who His is and leads them to worship even if they don’t turn to Him personally.

 

    The king reneged on his proffered second chance and immediately ordered the three men into a fire he had ordered to be heated 7 times its normal temp!  It was so hot that those that threw the young men into the furnace were killed.  And who were these men who threw them into the fire?  They were some of the strongest men in the army.  Could this king really have feared these young men that much?  They were tied up, they had said that they would go but the king wants to make sure it happens, even if it means he loses some men in the process.

 

    The king was so mad he sat down to watch them burn.  But he jumps to his feet when he sees 4 men walking around in the fire.  And what were the men in the fire thinking?  Do you think that their awe of God was growing by the second?  Here they are walking around in a fire with someone that wasn’t from this world.  They had to be amazed that their robes, turbans, and trousers were not catching fire.  Were they even feeling the heat?

 

    The king can’t stand it.  He walks up to the fire, yes, the fire that had just killed some of his strong soldiers and calls the men to come out.  What does he say about them as he is calling them out?  “Servants of the Most High God.”  This is admission of who God is.  It is the first step of true worship.  Who comes to this worship service?  The very ones that the king had invited to worship his statue.  “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.”  And the king makes a decree that no one is to say anything bad about God.  And all these nobles from far and wide now have personal observations of their own about God to take home with them.  The worship of God can spread because these men stood firm because they knew God, really knew Him.

 

Making It Personal

    Have you ever had opportunity to take a stand for God?  Did you take the opportunity?  What needs to change in your life for you to be ready when an opportunity arises?

 

Making It Personal Kids

    Why didn’t the men bow down to the king’s statue?  Who do you think was walking with them in the fire?  Are you willing to stand up for God?

 

Closing Prayer

    Father, Your miraculous care of these men is amazing.  Help us to love You in such a deep way that we are willing to take the fire for You.  We want to stand for You, give us the needed strength.  In Jesus’ name, amen.


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East Martin Christian Reformed Church

510 118th Ave

Martin, MI 49070

eastmartin.510@gmail.com

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