What to give

Daniel 3 :

16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend

ourselves before you in this matter. 17If 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. 18But 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.”

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed......

26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come

out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and 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.

28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

So, what is the amazing part?

This no Small thing, getting tossed in a furnace, no matter what the temperature, is not something people walk away from unsinged.

Yet we focus on the fire and what happened there, that we ignore or push aside what was demonstrated.

Basically, King Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king of his time (read previous chapter)

As such, when he said something, it was to be done. Now why does this matter? Well, this is not a time of democracy, jury decides trial. Literally, you disobey, king having a bad day, and ding, there goes your head. Not funny, the truth.

So , what did those 3 do ? They picked God over the king. Not only that, they basically, from how the king reacts, slapped him in the face.

Now, what God did, saving from the fire was immensely understated. I mean amazing is not even a fraction what happened.Yet, I believe to God, that is and was nothing. Actually, to Him, and I'm just thinking, this is not fact based, but from how God took Enoch who walked with Him, gave David the honor of having Jesus as a descendant, just making David king and saying that David was a man after His heart and keeping David's line for all that time, well, the reward for these 3 (to live, to be used in a miracle, and after promoted) that was um, God was ecstatic to save them.

To God, I believe, this is all it comes down to: V.16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If 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. 18But 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.” 

The center to these events. 

Don't overlook that, Dan, this is not about the action of them saved, it's the action of God being first, being the reason for living. In all things, no matter the outcome, whether God saves from it or allows it to come to pass,  it IS about GOD and HIS WAYS. No matter what. That is what I think, um, you know, just is one of the great motivators to HIM, when we can say “God, you can save me from it, but even if you don't, I won't do what goes against you.” Totally, just , wow, I can't think of the words.

Can I say that? DO I do that? Am I striving to do it? Hm, if God said, “ Do all this for me, I'm not gonna stop the “fire” from burning you and destroying you.” Would I do it? DO I do it?

I have to. Remember, Dan, this story. Do you have the faith, the reliance, the mindset of “ God, some painful things are gonna happen, I know you can save me from it, but even if you don't, I won't disobey You.” Whether I like it or not, or understand why.

Dan, this is just like Paul saying in Ph'p:1:21: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Oh, God HELP ME ! PLEASE! HELP US PLEASE! 

Open my eyes to Your Truth, please, I'm so lost, so much I have to learn. Thank you for being patient and merciful. You know my prayers and the reasons for my tears. Please carry through the fires, teach to disregard my life for Your purpose. Just know I'm scared of that, though. Scared of the scars to be gained and those I carry and so sorry for those I have given others. Heal it all, please. Through your Son, Amen.