God Alone is Worthy
I wonder if, like me, you have a favorite book, movie, or place that is just that little bit more significant to you than any other? When it comes to the Old Testament, the narrative of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the fiery furnace, found in Daniel 3, is my all-time favorite biblical account.
I love what we see of who God is as the story unfolds. Not only is He the All-Powerful One who rescues and delivers His people, but He also is the God who alone is worthy of our worship, trust, and obedience, whatever the circumstances.
No matter how many times I have read this passage, God, by His Spirit, always speaks to me bringing courage, comfort, and challenge. So I am asking Him to graciously do that afresh for us today as we think on these things together.
God Alone is God
From our studies in the first two chapters of the book of Daniel, we know the background of the story and the context geographically, culturally, and spiritually in which Daniel and his three friends found themselves–living as exiles in Babylon, which was not their home.
The challenges they faced could just as easily apply to us now, centuries later, as the world seeks to squeeze us into its mold, and the temptation to worship other things presses in on our hearts and minds. The unwavering trust, steadfast obedience, and absolute confidence in the character and power of God that we see demonstrated through the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could be just the encouragement and challenge each of us needs in whatever situation we are facing right now.
The ninety feet high, nine feet wide golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had made was a striking image and reminder of the immense power he had, humanly speaking, at that time. The pressure to conform and bow down before it in worship would have been huge. But our three friends in this story knew God’s Word, which commanded them to have no other gods but Him, nor were they to worship any idol or statue (Exodus 20).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed that living in obedience to the One True God was much more important, even though their decision to stand firm would make them stand out at great risk to their very lives.
God Alone Sustains
This same type of pressure, threat, risk, and high price is being faced and experienced by more than 365 million of our persecuted brothers and sisters around our world today. They live in countries where following Jesus can lead to imprisonment, horrendous violence, being cast out by family and society, and even at the cost of their very lives.
I’ve had the immense privilege of meeting face to face some of the most courageous believers who have endured terrible ordeals for refusing to give up their faith. Their deep love for Jesus is contagious, and they shine brightly with the testimony of God’s faithfulness to them in their darkest times. They are witnesses to the nearness of Jesus in the fiery furnace of trial and suffering.
Let’s pause to pray and lift up all who are facing such persecution today – that they would have courage and resilience to stand firm, know the comforting reassurance of God with them, and the confidence that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, too, the danger was real. It was no empty threat King Nebuchadnezzar had issued when he declared the deadly punishment for disobeying the decree to bow down and worship the mighty golden statue when the music played.
The furnace was fiery, and it was lethal. Yet, consider the resolute response of these godly men to the King, when they were summoned and questioned about their resistance to his command;
“If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.” Daniel 3:17-18
This unwavering faith and determination to not compromise didn’t just come when their obedience was challenged! Rather, it was developed, proved, and grew over time in the daily choices and decisions they had already made to put God first.
What a lesson there is for us in this. In a world that is not our home, we find ourselves in a culture that wants us to fit in and adapt to its standards and morals, put ourselves first, find worth and identity in our career, bank account, or in our image. We constantly face pressure from without and the battle from within for the affection of our hearts, the priorities of our time, the things we invest our lives in.
God Alone is Faithful
Perhaps this is a call today to come back to our first love and desire to worship Him only, with all of our lives. Or maybe, God’s Spirit wills to strengthen you with the reminder that He is able to do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine. So, keep trusting and praying, even though you haven’t seen God answer yet, the breakthrough hasn’t come, or the burden seems too great.
Believe that the reality of God’s character is bigger than whatever you are facing today. He is Sovereign. Mighty. Wise. Good. Loving. Kind.
The greatest challenge of faith for me in this passage, comes not when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declare that they believe God to be able to rescue and deliver. Rather, it’s in the “if not.” They were still trusting no matter what the outcome was.
There is a challenge for every believer. We must decide that even if God doesn’t answer as we hope, bring the healing we long for, or restore the relationship that caused such hurt, He is still worthy of our worship and devotion because of who He is, not for what He does or does not do for us.
It has been said that what we believe determines how we behave. May it be that our steadfast belief in God’s sovereignty, His goodness, His perfect timing, and the comfort that He stands with us in every trial, strengthen our faith so that we will daily long to know and trust and love Him more.
To be like Jesus – may this be our desire.
