Bible Reading: Daniel 3, 4; 1 John 5
Memory Verse: “Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.” Daniel 3:22 (KJV)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the burning fiery furnace by men obedient to the king, Nebuchadnezzar. But these men were burnt by the fire. Daniel 3:22 (KJV) says, “Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.” They lost their lives in the service of the evil king against the children of God. But do you notice that the three Hebrew boys did not pray against them but willingly submitted themselves to the men and the evil meant for the Hebrew boys befell the men who threw them into the fire!
It is also important to note that the king himself did not lose his life; rather he had the opportunity of changing his position and pledging loyalty to the Almighty God. Hear him in Daniel 3:29 (KJV), “Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.”
Are there any agent being used by the evil one to persecute you in your office, in your home or even in the church, you do not need to fight them. They will naturally lose the battle and they either suffer the fate planned for you or they get worse punishment because God always defends his own. And if you are that agent being used, it’s important that you resign from such assignment so that you do not end up carrying the evil load. Remember the prayer of David in Psalm 28:4 (KJV), “Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.”
As a child of God, what is expected of you is to remain faithful and undaunting inspite of clear persecution and you will see our God fight for you. Unfortunately, some believers have quit at the last moment and they usually suffer because they do not allow God to use that situation to glorify himself. In our passage, Nebuchadnezzar came to glorify God and actually commended God unto his subjects over his own golden image ( Daniel 3:28-29).
Prayer point:
Ask God to give you grace to remain resolute in your faith even in the midst of persecution.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero