Remaining faithful through difficult times is the challenge God’s people have always faced. As we read through His word, there is no better picture of consistent faithfulness than in the story of Daniel and his friends. The Book of Daniel is filled with examples of God’s people being asked to compromise their commitment to God to please men. In the tests, these men’s very lives were on the line. Daniel stood up to the Captain of the Guard, two kings, and His friends were even thrown into a fiery furnace to be killed for their commitment.
Daniel and His friend’s commitments were honored by God and by the very kings they served. Their faithfulness not only elevated them to places of prominence, but it also caused those that tested them to come to know God.
In our lives, as we remain faithful, God will also honor our faithfulness. Sometimes our faithfulness will come at a great personal cost. None the less, when God shows us as faithful, the faithfulness will almost always bring glory to God, and it will also change others’ lives. Jonah’s faithfulness changed Nineveh, David’s faithfulness killed Goliath and changed the course of the war with the Philistines. Esther’s faithfulness Saved her nation, and Peter’s faithfulness led 5000 people to God on Pentecost.
We will never know the results of our willingness to remain faithful. We can rest assured, however, that whatever the personal cost, God’s reward will greatly exceed it. Paul said it best in Romans, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
God Bless You
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13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 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? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe 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?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
19 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 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar 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, 27 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.
28 Then 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. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
Walking With God 