As I ventured out of the building to make my way home today I caught a glance at the sky. Once again the fiery sky was red with the glory of God. A few looked up and carried on their way, oblivious to God’s work in our lives.

Three pictures I took as I walked to my car.

Three strong men of God had their faith tested to the extreme.

Each of them were thrown into a fire, like the burning sky because they dared to stand up and not cast their faith onto the floor and worship another.

Daniel 3:19-25

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

I was reminded by God today that despite my feeling at times like I was in the midst of a fire, like I was useless and lacked skill. Despite the fact that many are far more worthy of the Lord than me, including many people many years younger, I am chosen by God. Our bodies may ache and complain, but our souls and spirits will be unharmed and sanctified as God has said He will be with us, as He was with these three men. I know that there are people who are truly being tested, and I will one day be tested even more. But I was reminded today by the voice of an angel that I will not be tempted beyond what God knows that I can take. Be at ease, for God is with us.

We are daily being tempered in the fire to sit one day with God and listen to him unfold the whole story, and perhaps then shall we smile and and be amazed at the story He has created; a love story from God to humanity.

The image of the three men of God just walking around in the fire is a truly earth shattering image.

Imagine if you were one of these men, what would you have been thinking? Perhaps still reeling from shock that despite being in the midst of a fire you were completely unhurt. Despite the fact that the soldiers who cast you into here died from the heat, and you are completely fine, your cloths don’t even smell of the fire. Pacing up and down thinking what to do next, and then the Son of God appears and is with you.

Are we called to be in these fiery situations and to be as calm as these men walking in the midst of the fire?

Have hope and courage because we have the Son of God on our side and there is no situation that He will not be with us in. In our trials He is there with us, as he was with these three men of God.

Dear Lord, be with us all in our moments of trials,
and teach us to be tempered in the fire as we bare our trials,
thank you for opening our eyes, for the wisdom you speak through others.
We live our life as a sacrifice for your glory only.

Amen