Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
October 28, 2021
Read Daniel 3:19-30
19 Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his face twisted beyond recognition because of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In response he commanded that the furnace be heated to seven times its normal heat. 20 He told some of the strongest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of flaming fire. 21 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound, still dressed in all their clothes, and thrown into the furnace of flaming fire. ( 22 Now the king’s command had been rash, and the furnace was heated to such an extreme that the fire’s flame killed the very men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to it.) 23 So these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell, bound, into the furnace of flaming fire. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in shock and said to his associates, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?” They answered the king, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He replied, “Look! I see four men, unbound, walking around inside the fire, and they aren’t hurt! And the fourth one looks like one of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar went near the opening of the furnace of flaming fire and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27 The chief administrators, ministers, governors, and the king’s associates crowded around to look at them. The fire hadn’t done anything to them: their hair wasn’t singed; their garments looked the same as before; they didn’t even smell like fire! 28 Nebuchadnezzar declared: “May the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be praised! He sent his messenger to rescue his servants who trusted him. They ignored the king’s order, sacrificing their bodies, because they wouldn’t serve or worship any god but their God. 29 I now issue a decree to every people, nation, and language: whoever speaks disrespectfully about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s God will be torn limb from limb and their house made a trash heap, because there is no other god who can rescue like this.” 30 Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prosperous in the province of Babylon
Good Morning! Our God is an Awesome God!
There are so many challenging names to pronounce in other cultures, nowhere is this more noticeable than when you read passages in the Old Testament. For all of those names that trip my tongue, I remember learning the names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as a child. I think there was a song, but maybe it was a Vacation Bible School lesson. It’s funny to me those things that are buried deep in our brains that suddenly reappear, sometimes with just a single word or image.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego supported each other when they were challenged by the evil around them. Jesus gathered a group of disciples so that they could support each other, especially when we ascended into heaven. When we try to face our earthly challenges alone, it is often very difficult. We just don’t have enough fingers to plug all of the holes.
We are not called to serve God in isolation, but as a member of the community of faith. By working together, we can support one another and by the strength of the group we have innumerable abilities to overcome even the most difficult challenges. God calls us to join the family, to become one body. This is what we celebrate each time we gather together for Holy Communion.
Embrace the love and strength that comes from our God and grows each time we share this gift with one another and with the world. As members of the community of faith, we are never alone. God is always with us. When we share the light with others, our family grows. We must work together until all are fed.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. We must take time to learn from the examples found in the scriptures. We are not called to face our challenges alone because you are there waiting to lead us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: How can I help a brother or sister on the journey of faith today?
Embrace the love! Pastor Liz
Comments