WE Stand for the Truth of the Gospel!

Daniel 3:13-18 New International Version

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[a] 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.”

Wednesday - August 11

Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, once said: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” The amazing part of the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was not that they were completely and totally unafraid. I’m sure they were scared out of their minds at the prospect of being burned alive! Instead, they overcame their fear because they knew how much God loved them and that death was not the end of their lives. The promise of eternal life actually sets us free in this life now to live with courage in the face of fear. We can stand for the truth of the Gospel knowing our lives are secure in Christ.