I have three friends named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Okay, they're not really my friends, I just like to think they because right now I feel like we're on the same page. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three Jewish dudes who were alive back in 6th century BC and lived in Babylon. They're been carried from their homeland off into captivity and The Lord blessed them with good health and good brains. One day the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar- for sake of our sanity, let's call him King Nebby- made a huge gold statue and demanded people to bow down to it. How silly is that? Ok, we think it's silly, but by a historical context, the king had every worldly right to do what he pleased and have others do the same. My three Jewish dudes? Not a chance. They weren't going to worship anything other then their God. The God. The only God. And that didn't please King Nebby too much. He became incredibly furious and demanded to see them. "Why won't you listen?" he asked. "I'll give you one chance. If you bow, I'll let it go. If you don't, I'll throw you into a blazing furnace." Extreme, I know, right?
The three of them replied in unison "Oh King Nebby. We don't need to defend ourselves before you. Our God, who we serve, is able to save us. He will rescue us. But even if He doesn't you can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up." Time to get serious.
I can picture it- the king dressed in royal robes, demanding that these three prisoners just listen. He probably even thought he was being good and gracious, giving them a second chance. And these three foreigners who don't even fully belong reply with respect- we won't serve anyone but our God. He's gonna come. He's gonna show up. He's big enough and strong enough to rescue us from anything. But even if He doesn't, we will love Him and Serve Him only.
Even if He doesn't. They knew The Lord. They knew that they served the One who created cosmos and breathed out stars. They knew He was strong enough and powerful enough and more than capable. They knew He ordained everything, timed everything. His plan was right and though they had no idea what it was, they trusted Him and believed in Him enough to be thrown into a blazing furnace.
Every time I picture this scene, I cannot help but think of veggie tales. Little cartoon vegetables hopping around with no arms yet still carrying swords. Tonight, though, I'm picturing it for the first time. Really picturing it. Three men, among people and family who aren't their own, standing before the most powerful person in the world and refusing to obey him for the sake of their God's glory. I can picture them looking at each other with sober faces, sweat beading on their foreheads, knowing that this would be an end to their life on earth and yet in unison, agreeing to still honour God. It's a humbling thing to imagine.
Right now, I want to focus on 5 words: but-even-if-He-doesn't. That sounds familiar to me because I have said it before. Many times. Maybe it sounds familiar to you, too. "I'm gonna kneel down, lay my hands on someone and ask The Lord for healing. But even if He doesn't heal... What? We will still worship You, Lord."
"I'm going to go serve Him in another country and He will provide, but even if He doesn't... What? We still glorify Him."
Even if the bones don't heal and funds remain empty and that family member doesn't come back- we will still serve Him.
I think Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had something right. I don't think they were being disloyal or had disbelief that The Lord was capable. I think they were being practical. And not in a worldly sense either. I think that they knew God was more than powerful enough to save them but I think they also knew that God was much, much wiser then them. And that even though they probably REALLY wanted to be rescued, God may not do that. And I think maybe they had peace because they placed in in The Lord's hands, walked in step with Him and whatever was going to happen next- Amen. So be it.
I think often we Christians are way too quick to judge. If a brother or sister is sick or poor we often attribute it to a lack of faith. As if what God does totally, completely, 110% depends on what we believe. I don't know where you find that in the bible, beloved. Please show me if it's there. Don't get me wrong- we must believe in Jesus and what He's done and what He does through us. He is so strong and uses us frail humans to display that. I'm not arguing that point, but I do know this- God is so much smarter than me. His plan is so much better than mine. And I know that His will and His way are not fully dependent on me. There have been times where I prayed with faith for healing and it was given. There have been other times where I prayed with equal faith for healing and it was not. There have been times I've prayed, truly doubting God, and He came through anyway. And there have been times where I prayed with such sturdy faith I swore God was going to move mountains and He didn't. It is the same with funds and salvation and petitions. I think it has to do with God's good plans, not my often-faulty heart.
So I guess my point, really, is to believe. Love. Give. Serve. Pray, pray, pray. Read. Take courage and be bold in Jesus. Ask. He hears you and He knows and He may move, but even if He doesn't- love Him anyway. Glorify Him anyway. Serve Him and only Him anyway.
The three of them replied in unison "Oh King Nebby. We don't need to defend ourselves before you. Our God, who we serve, is able to save us. He will rescue us. But even if He doesn't you can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up." Time to get serious.
I can picture it- the king dressed in royal robes, demanding that these three prisoners just listen. He probably even thought he was being good and gracious, giving them a second chance. And these three foreigners who don't even fully belong reply with respect- we won't serve anyone but our God. He's gonna come. He's gonna show up. He's big enough and strong enough to rescue us from anything. But even if He doesn't, we will love Him and Serve Him only.
Even if He doesn't. They knew The Lord. They knew that they served the One who created cosmos and breathed out stars. They knew He was strong enough and powerful enough and more than capable. They knew He ordained everything, timed everything. His plan was right and though they had no idea what it was, they trusted Him and believed in Him enough to be thrown into a blazing furnace.
Every time I picture this scene, I cannot help but think of veggie tales. Little cartoon vegetables hopping around with no arms yet still carrying swords. Tonight, though, I'm picturing it for the first time. Really picturing it. Three men, among people and family who aren't their own, standing before the most powerful person in the world and refusing to obey him for the sake of their God's glory. I can picture them looking at each other with sober faces, sweat beading on their foreheads, knowing that this would be an end to their life on earth and yet in unison, agreeing to still honour God. It's a humbling thing to imagine.
Right now, I want to focus on 5 words: but-even-if-He-doesn't. That sounds familiar to me because I have said it before. Many times. Maybe it sounds familiar to you, too. "I'm gonna kneel down, lay my hands on someone and ask The Lord for healing. But even if He doesn't heal... What? We will still worship You, Lord."
"I'm going to go serve Him in another country and He will provide, but even if He doesn't... What? We still glorify Him."
Even if the bones don't heal and funds remain empty and that family member doesn't come back- we will still serve Him.
I think Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had something right. I don't think they were being disloyal or had disbelief that The Lord was capable. I think they were being practical. And not in a worldly sense either. I think that they knew God was more than powerful enough to save them but I think they also knew that God was much, much wiser then them. And that even though they probably REALLY wanted to be rescued, God may not do that. And I think maybe they had peace because they placed in in The Lord's hands, walked in step with Him and whatever was going to happen next- Amen. So be it.
I think often we Christians are way too quick to judge. If a brother or sister is sick or poor we often attribute it to a lack of faith. As if what God does totally, completely, 110% depends on what we believe. I don't know where you find that in the bible, beloved. Please show me if it's there. Don't get me wrong- we must believe in Jesus and what He's done and what He does through us. He is so strong and uses us frail humans to display that. I'm not arguing that point, but I do know this- God is so much smarter than me. His plan is so much better than mine. And I know that His will and His way are not fully dependent on me. There have been times where I prayed with faith for healing and it was given. There have been other times where I prayed with equal faith for healing and it was not. There have been times I've prayed, truly doubting God, and He came through anyway. And there have been times where I prayed with such sturdy faith I swore God was going to move mountains and He didn't. It is the same with funds and salvation and petitions. I think it has to do with God's good plans, not my often-faulty heart.
So I guess my point, really, is to believe. Love. Give. Serve. Pray, pray, pray. Read. Take courage and be bold in Jesus. Ask. He hears you and He knows and He may move, but even if He doesn't- love Him anyway. Glorify Him anyway. Serve Him and only Him anyway.