Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

When most people think about faith in God, Abraham is often the first name mentioned because of his willingness to do whatever God asked him to do, even to the sacrificing of his only son, Isaac. But there is another story, nestled in the middle of the Bible, that is every bit an example of mature faith in God and in some ways even more dramatic. Three young men, captive in Babylon, find themselves in very pivotal circumstances. Nebuchadnezzar builds a giant gold statue and commands everyone to worship it. Now, while these young men did enjoy some favor with their captives, it did not spread to blatant disobedience to the king. They were threatened with being burned alive in a fiery furnace if they refused to bow. Fortunately, they’d had a providential relationship while in captivity with another strong man of God - Daniel. In the face of certain death and without Daniel there to back them up, they proclaimed their faith in a most amazing way. Our God CAN deliver us, acknowledging his power. Our God WILL deliver us, demonstrating their belief in him. Even if our God DOESN’T, acknowledging God’s right to make decisions for their life. Now THAT is faith.

Pray: “Dear Father, I am moved and humbled by the amazing faith I read about in your word. I desire, Lord, to have faith that is bold and unflinching in the face of opposition. That faith does not happen but is grown and developed. Lord, work through relationships in my life to build my faith, refine it by trial as you must, so that I can begin to see in me the faith I see in them. In Jesus’ name I ask – Amen.”