Encouragement in the Fire

( Planned to do another post, but no, this almost complete one, like a few others, is curiously the one!

 It’s such blessed thought! Trust it blesses you also, started about 6 mths or so ago.)

Hi there everyone!

I do love to find encouragement in the walk of those who’ve gone before, like the heroes of the Faith in Hebrews 11. 

However, today we’re heading briefly to the OT, to the book of Daniel. 

Daniel is the first the fourteen minor prophets, and it simply full of hope and promise in the midst of trials.

So we see these three young men, possibly in their 20’s: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hold onto their belief in God, even when threatened with a fiery death. 

Their story serves as inspiration for those who question their faith, or who face hardship for their beliefs.

Three young exiles were arrested in Babylon for not obeying  the kings command, to bow worship his golden idol. This was their reply of faith.

 

Dan 3:17-18

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is ABLE to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

**BUT if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will NOT serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image..”

I was pondering these three young men. 

I thought, why them?

I'm sure there were other believers in Babylon.

*****

The prophet Elijah thought he was the only follower of Jaweh, the LORD God, left: 

".. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." 

1 King 19:14b

But no! the LORD God said:

"Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, 

all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, 

and every mouth which hath not kissed him."

1 Kings 19:18

So I wonder how many others before these three friends had refused to bow the knee and suffered the deadly consequences? 

Of course, this brief story of Daniel’s friends does not share it.

However I’m rather sure there were others who’d died before, as their reply seems to indicate:

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is ABLE to deliver us….” 

“IF IT BE SO …”

“If it be so” ie God willing, He may, as He IS able to rescue us.

However, this rescue seems it happened to none other at this time but to these three.

*****

Compare this to the leper Naaman, Jesus Himself spoke of the uniqueness of Naaman’s healing.

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet;

 and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. Luke 4:27

The mercy and grace of the Lord is ours. 

If we but ask in faith in Jesus’ name. 

Ye have not because ye ask not, James says that ye may consume it upon your own lust. (See James 4:3,4 - here)

However by the same token if attitude is wrong 😑, God will not give it.

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

So then it is not of him that willeth, 

nor of him that runneth, 

but of God that sheweth mercy.

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, 

Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Romans 9:15-18

I notice two things, God’s glory is the reason, for His mercy being manifest. 

❤️ Heart is key, our three lad’s hearts were in the right place.

As I think upon this passage I pray earnestly for the youth of today! 

“For unto whomsoever much is given, 

of him shall much is required”.. - see here Luke 12:48).

We who are older in the faith have a huge responsibility 

- to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING for those coming along after.

We must intercede for younger ones in faith as our Saviour did for us, how He loves us! This eternal prayer is as fresh as when it was prayed for you and I!

Do love John 17, the might of Christ’s love and yearning intercession at work! 

(See our Saviour’s beautiful prayer for us, in this passage here).

If we fail to hold the ropes in prayer, their shipwreck may well be laid at our door. 

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required! 

Just think of those who had prayed for these three lads? 

They were faithful to pray, may we go and do likewise.

Hymn here if not showing.

Face to face with Christ, my Savior

Face to face, what will it be?

When with rapture I behold him

Jesus Christ who died for me

Face to face shall I behold him

Far beyond the starry sky

Face to face in all his glory

I shall see him by and by

Only faintly now I see him

With the darkened veil between

But a blessed day is coming

When his glory shall be seen

Face to face shall I behold him

Far beyond the starry sky

Face to face in all his glory

I shall see him by and by

Face to face, oh, blissful moment

Face to face, to see and know

Face to face with my Redeemer

Jesus Christ who loved me so

Face to face shall I behold him

Far beyond the starry sky

Face to face in all his glory

I shall see him (I shall see Him)

By and by (Him by and by)

(To read the story behind this hymn see See here.)

1 John 3:2 goes with this hymn in my mind, and curiously they’ve put it at the end of the video too, however if you read the above post it was not written for this verse, but 1 Cor 13:12.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 

and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: 

but we know that, when he shall appear,

 we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1John 3:2

That I am so very much looking forward, to seeing Jesus and being like Him, that will indeed be JOY… JOY TO COME!

Let us look up, for our redemption draweth nigh. 

Perhaps today, LORD Jesus. Perhaps, today!

O Father God, please keep our eyes looking up to our wonderful Saviour, let our hearts be fixed on Thee, or as the hymn writer said “let my soul look up in a STEADFAST HOPE, and my will be lost in Thine.” 

In Jesus’ precious name, I pray these things, for all dear ones out there, Amen.

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, especially if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz.x 

If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here - Who or What is a Christian?

PS. If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager

of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

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