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Theme: THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH
Text: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” – Daniel 3:16-18.
Comment: The text for today exemplifies the strong faith children of God are expected to covet in the face of danger and even threat to their lives. The three faithful Jews, defied the ungodly decree of King Nebuchadnezzar, choosing instead to please the Almighty God rather than men. (Exodus 20:3; Acts 5:29) It is instructive that the three Jews were unequivocal in their response to the King: ”Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18.
St. Paul admonished worshippers of God to remain undaunted and unmovable in face of Satan’s persecution; “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35,38, 39.