A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT by Linda Sommerville
After the disruption, discouragement, and isolation of the past 15 months, many of us have an increased awareness of our absolute need for God. We’ve recognized anew that we are not in control, and that we are completely dependent upon the grace and mercy of God for our daily lives.
For some of us, this has tested our faithfulness to God as we’ve experienced times of confusion, loss, or fear. For others, this has gone deeper and actually challenged our very faith as we’ve experienced moments of doubt that God is there, is good, and can fulfill his promises to us.
Thankfully, none of this is a surprise to God!
God knows our weaknesses and provides us with story after story of faith and faithfulness throughout Scripture to help us put our focus back on the good God who is always with us and always for us. One such incredible story comes to us from thousands of years ago in Babylon, during the reign of a narcissistic and evil king named Nebuchadnezzar. Are you ready to have your faith encouraged? Read on!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego spoke truth to power in the face of almost certain death. By refusing to bow down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had built, they demonstrated tremendous faithfulness to the one true God. They clearly understood that there could be no compromise on this issue. They had lived lives of faithfulness to God every day, obeying the words of the ten commandments which says, “I am the Lord your God…you shall have no other gods before me.” (Deut. 5:6-7)
But even beyond faithfulness to God, they also demonstrated tremendous faith in God.
These three men knew that Nebuchadnezzar would burn them alive if they did not comply with his command. Yet their response to the king is a stunning example of deep faith in God. They said:
“If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18)
The phrase “but if not” is the moment of complete faith. That is the demonstration of trust in God to be in control, even if circumstances did not turn out the way they wanted. This phrase is an echo of Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, when he said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
- Faith means trusting in our Father God to be in control, to be the One who works all things “together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
- Faith means recognizing that our perspective on life is extremely limited, but God is unlimited.
- Faith is trusting God to be the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God of the universe who says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8).
- Faith means admitting we do not see the whole picture. God alone is the One who sees the beginning from the end. We only see a tiny sliver of reality, but our good God has a purpose and a plan for our lives and for all humanity and he is working out his good and loving will in ways we will not always understand because He is God and we are not.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted that God could deliver them from a painful, fiery death. But if not, they trusted in God anyway. Like Jesus, they were able to trust and say, “Your will not mine be done.” They had faith that God was good and in control, even if they didn’t live to see the results this side of heaven. Now, we know the end of this amazing story – the evil king saw not three, but FOUR men walking around in the fire, and recognized that the true God had saved these three faithful men of faith.
“But if not” Moments with God
We, too, may have stories from our own lives of God’s dramatic provision, protection, or salvation. We may have “But if not” moments when we stepped out in faith and faithfulness, trusting the outcomes to God. Take some time today and ask God to remind you of some of those “God moments” and thank him for them. Let your faith be encouraged by them so that you can live more faithfully today. Then consider sharing that story with someone else to pass along the encouragement.