Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Three men and an angel Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Daniel 3:14-20 And Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. In the comic strip version these guys might be called Shad, M-shak and A-bed...and they would be painted with bright colors. They aren't politically correct, they don't have proper respect for authority, they hurl themselves into battle, they are more than a little crazy ... and then of course there is the rest of the story ... Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. This furnace killed anyone who got close, but not Shad, M-shak and A-bed. A fourth man, who looked "like a son of the gods" was in the fire to greet them, protect them, and send them back into their world un-dead. Living, that is. Living living living. I remember their faithfulness often: Our God is able to save us. He will rescue us. And even if he does not ... Since the stirring days of yesteryear, those fabulous times of Shad, M-shak and A-bed, martyrs of every sex and size have gone to the stake or the firing line or the gallows saying, "My God is able to save me. He will rescue me. But even if he does not ..." In that moment they were privileged to move completely out of the world of human acclamation into life with the Lord. They needed nothing more. This middle ground, Lord, between life on earth and life with you, is the way of all flesh. I want to stay turned toward you. Move me closer today. "; Add      Edit    Delete