By Jackie Scrivanich
"If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
Daniel 3:17-18 HCSB
It's taken me a long time to get here, but I'm in the habit of reading the Bible every single day. And not just reading it, but really trying to meditate on it. To take what is being said and figure out what it was supposed to mean and how God can use it to change and shape my life so I can better live for Him.
Last week I began reading through the Book of Daniel. And I honestly wasn't sure how much I would get out of a book that was written so long ago, to people so very different than myself, in a country very different than my own. But the word of God is alive and it can change us if only we allow it.
As I was reading Daniel, I came across the well-known story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And when I come on passages that I know well, I have to be very diligent about not skimming over them. So I read this passage, in Chapter 3 of The Book of Daniel, very slowly. Prayerfully savoring every word and hoping God would reveal something new to me through his word.
And he did.
What an honor we have to serve a God who wants to communicate with us. A God who it's so wonderful to us that he shows us new things and teaches us new things all the time.
Many people I know choose certain things for their family and a big reason they do these things is because of their religious beliefs. Things like homeschooling and medical freedom and the like. Things that are getting harder and harder to choose because of our culture and our government.
When I think about the story in Daniel, I think about what I would do if I were in a situation where I was forced to do something that I felt was against something God has told me.
Do I bow down and pray God will take care of us? If the government tells me I have to do xyz with my kids or they will be removed from our family? If xyz doesn't line up with God and His Word, then no I can't.
If my spouse or my family or friends try and make me feel ostracized because of a decision that I am making but I believe is from God, I will still choose God.
I will always face God. Posture myself so my whole body is facing God.
"If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 HCSB