So Someone Else Can See

The story of the 3 Hebrew children is not a new one. It is taught early on and we usually first hear about this in Sunday School class as a young child.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Names we are very familiar with.

Their faith in God.

Their stand for God.

Their fiery trial.

Their deliverance.

God’s faithfulness.

God’s promises.

God’s presence with them in the fire.

God’s miracle.

It is not a new thought that sometimes what we go through is to help someone else along the way. In fact, I blogged something along the same thought here last year. How is it God can take something we think we know so well, and combine it with a thought that is not new and yet put them together and it completely knock you off your feet? I don’t know and maybe it might not have the same impact on you that it did me, but there’s one very important thing about the story of the 3 Hebrew children that we don’t always think about. (Or I hadn’t ever.) And that’s God’s love for Nebuchadnezzar the king.

The story can be found in Daniel 3. Go read it again and come back.

*How much did God love a wicked and cruel king? Enough to ask Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to sacrifice everything, their very lives.* This is a picture of Calvary. God loved me so much that He sacrificed Jesus for a world of wicked sinners, myself included.

*They had to walk through the fire so someone else could see God.* This shows God extending saving grace to Nebuchadnezzar and keeping grace to the Hebrews. Would the King have ever seen God if the Hebrew children had not gone into the fire?

*They were thrown in and when they did, they fell down. How hard would it be to stand back up if you were bound? But when the King looked in to see, they were UP walking.* God does not let us stay down in the trial that we have to go through. He always, always picks us up.

*They had to be surrounded by the flames before they could be surrounded by God’s presence.* God is not shown walking with them until they are in the fire. God is with us all the time now, but sometimes God lets us walk in the fire so we can be closer to him. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart…

*But God WAS with them in the flames. They had to be tested before they were rewarded. But they were never alone while walking in the furnace. And because they were faithful, they were used to bring many to God. And then promoted.* This is a perfect example of God’s promise that everything works for our good and His glory.

Now, that might not make us feel better to know that we have to walk through some dark valley so someone else will be brought to the Lord, but when we choose to let God work through our suffering, when we choose the fire, we are being like our Savior, who willingly sacrificed everything He had so we could come to know Him. He is faithful, will I be?

I don’t want to go through the fire for MY good. It’s too hot. It’s too hard. It hurts too much. It’s too scary. It lasts too long.

Why would I want to go through it for someone else?

Because the only thing I can take with me when I die is someone else and what I’ve done for Him.

Trials come for all different reasons. And we have a choice to make in each one. Are we going to allow God to work through it, or are we just going to survive it until it’s over.

God has promised to never waste my pain. So why would -I- waste it?

Do you find yourself in a trial? I’ve learned you can hide all kind of pain and hurt and suffering. A smile can fool people into thinking you’re ok when you’re not. You can also complain so much that no one ever wants to hear another thing you say. Choose to let God work. Because He sees that person that is watching you even though you might not. And you never know what God might ask you to walk through so someone else can see Him.

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Words & Music ©Faith York 2016