The Resistance - Day 19
Day 19: Thursday, February 23
Read Daniel 3
Highlight
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have one of the most beautiful professions of faith in all of the Scriptures. They declare simultaneously a confidence in God’s power to save (“...he will deliver us out of your hand, O king”) and a recognition of his sovereign will being best (“But even if he does not…we will not serve your gods…”). Jesus taught (see Day 1) that the heart of anxiety is unbelief. These three Israelites believe that our God is the only one worth serving even if he chooses not to deliver them from this danger.
God does choose to save them through the appearance of a fourth figure in the furnace. Some scholars believe this to be a Christophany, or an appearance of pre-incarnate Jesus in the Old Testament. This would be the same Jesus who promised his followers in Matthew 28 that he would be “with you always, to the end of the age.” This is not always easy to trust when we face the furnace. To strengthen your faith, consider listening to the song “Another in the Fire” by Hillsong United as part of your reflection and prayer time.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Read Daniel 3
Highlight
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have one of the most beautiful professions of faith in all of the Scriptures. They declare simultaneously a confidence in God’s power to save (“...he will deliver us out of your hand, O king”) and a recognition of his sovereign will being best (“But even if he does not…we will not serve your gods…”). Jesus taught (see Day 1) that the heart of anxiety is unbelief. These three Israelites believe that our God is the only one worth serving even if he chooses not to deliver them from this danger.
God does choose to save them through the appearance of a fourth figure in the furnace. Some scholars believe this to be a Christophany, or an appearance of pre-incarnate Jesus in the Old Testament. This would be the same Jesus who promised his followers in Matthew 28 that he would be “with you always, to the end of the age.” This is not always easy to trust when we face the furnace. To strengthen your faith, consider listening to the song “Another in the Fire” by Hillsong United as part of your reflection and prayer time.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
- What truth does this passage communicate about God? About us? About our world?
- Has God used this passage to highlight something that is wrong in your life?
- What does this passage teach us to do? What is one practical thing you can do to apply this to your life?
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Posted in The Resistance