When the heat turns up!

Based on Daniel 3-4, 1 John 5

There are times when we want to turn up the heat-especially as winter sets in! But there are other times where the heat & pressure becomes too much...situations overwhelm us, and we need a little cool-down time! Just think about the 3 Hebrew children about to be thrown in the fiery furnace:

"Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" Daniel 3:15

This wasn't the "cozy up by the fire" heat from all the Christmas songs-this was being immersed IN the fire! And what did they do when the heat turned up? They stood their ground with God! They did not bow or break their commitment! They knew that, if they lived or died, God would honor them for honoring Him!

"Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated." Daniel 3:19

Then, the heat turned up EVEN MORE! How quick are we to lose our cool when the heat turns up? Do we lose our commitment to God in the process? Do we remember that He is our rescue? Nothing & no one can keep us safe like our God! In times of high stress & high heat, trust God in the process! The 3 Hebrew children made it out, and that's because they stood for God when times got tough, and God stood with THEM in the fire!

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3

Many things in life are grievous to us-but God's Word brings life, hope & love as we hold to it!