11.26.9 "But if he doesn't..."

"But if he doesn't..."

Daniel 2:24 - 3:30
I Peter 4:7-5:14
Psalm 119:81-95
Proverbs 28:15-16

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! We have so much to be grateful for today! Make sure to pause and reflect on God's goodness!

The first few chapters in Daniel bring back the memories of childhood stories. They have all the makings of a great story. Daniel 1 has the story of the Hebrew diet and how it turned out better than that of the king. It's a great story, but as a kid I didn't like how adults would use that story to promote vegetables! The 2nd chapter talked of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and how Daniel was used of God to interpret the dream, and save the lives of the kings advisors.

Today's reading contains the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, (Rack, Shack & Benny for all you VeggieTales fans!) and how they refused to bow to another god. The king had made a statue of himself and all the people were ordered to worship it. "When the band strikes up, you are to fall flat on the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue; anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a flaming furnace." Dan. 3:5

Obviously, this law was in direct conflict with the commandment of the Lord. These men could not bow. You know the story: The king became angry, had the furnace heated to 7 times normal. It was so hot the guards who threw them in died, and there was a fourth person in the flames, one who appeared as a "son of God". The king ordered them out and they didn't even smell like smoke!

There were a few things that really stood out. The first is not obvious, and I didn't really notice it until reading these past chapters: Daniel and Rack, Shack & Benny, all responded to authority with respect at all times, even when the authority was doing wrong. In Dan. 1:8, Daniel ASKED his superior about the diet. He didn't demand, start a revolt or petition, or anything like that. He responded with proper respect to God's appointed authority structure. The same was true in the interpretation of the dream.

Well now things get a bit more "heated". (irresistible pun) This is life or death. These men are ordered to bow or die. Their response is not, "you can't throw us into the fire! We have rights!" Their response is, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried about what will happen to us. If we are thrown into the flaming furnace, our God is able to deliver us; and he will deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. But if he doesn't, please understand, sir, that even then we will never under any circumstance serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have erected." Dan. 3:16-18

They are willing to pay whatever price they must for their love for God, all the while still reverencing the authority of the king.

The other thing that really stands out as a challenge to me is to live life "not worried about what will happen to us." Living life with the confidence that "our God is able to deliver us... But if he doesn't..." My natural tendencies are "I'll stand strong ... as long as God delivers me!" This is not how it should be. God is completely capable and able to deliver me from ANY situation. I need to live with that faith. I also need to live with the determination to stand strong "Even if he doesn't"!

There will be times he "doesn't", at least he doesn't as soon as we like or the way we like. God's work is again "not about you", so part of what he is doing may include some suffering. "Dear friends, don't be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you. Instead, be really glad - because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory in that coming day when it will be displayed." I Peter 5:12-13

It's tough to be "really glad" about suffering, but it's something we should be working toward. It's faith building. Now, we need to make sure that we're suffering because of obedience and not disobedience. "Don't let me hear of your suffering for murdering or stealing or making trouble or being a busybody and prying into other people's affairs." I Peter 3:15

We shouldn't be out looking for trouble. We need to honor those in authority over us, even when they are wrong. We need to comply with instructions as far as scripture allows (enter the importance of knowing the Word!). We must also be willing to pay the price of obedience.

"So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you." I Peter 3:19

What can we learn from Rack, Shack & Benny? Honoring God is honoring his Authority structure (Relationships Devoted to Unity), and walking in obedience is the highest form of worship (Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship). What do you think the mood around was the day after they got out of the furnace? What kind of faith do you think they had the next day? This kind of obedience is what makes this lifestyle so dynamic!

Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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