This devotion that was sent by the Cathedral of Hope means more to me than any other message I've received since this horrible ordeal has started. Remember that the C of Hope is a trans-sexual church that accepts, gays, lesbians, and other sinners such as me.
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Cathedral of Hope Prayer Ministry
Devotion for Wednesday, October 5, 2005.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is from the Hebrew Testament book of Daniel. After the kingdom of Babylon defeated the kingdom of Judah, the Babylonians took the brightest and best of the Jewish people as hostages. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three Jewish hostages who worked for king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. The king decided to build a huge golden idol and decreed that everyone was worship the idol. Anyone who did not worship the idol would be thrown into a blazing furnace.
With motivation like that, everyone worshiped the idol. Except for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego because they would not betray God by worshiping a graven image. They were called before King Nebuchadnezzar and to his face they refused to bow down to the false god. They told him: "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if God does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)
King Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that he ordered the furnace to be stoked up seven times hotter than usual and he commanded that the three men be thrown in the fire. The furnace was so hot that even the soldiers who threw them into the furnace were killed by the flames. But then as everyone was looking into the furnace they realized that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were unhurt. "'Look!' Nebuchadnezzar shouted. 'I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!'" (Daniel 3:25) And the king called the men out of the fire and gave praise to God.
Notice that God did not prevent Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from being thrown in the furnace. God did not put out the fire that was blazing in the furnace. And God did not remove them from the furnace. What God did do was to come down and be with them in the furnace and that is why they survived.
I believe THAT is how God works in our lives. God is not going to prevent us from being thrown into the furnaces of life. Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus say that following him would remove the pain and suffering from our lives. Jesus did promise that he would be with us through the fiery furnaces of our lives. He has never failed to keep that promise.
I believe that God is never silent and that God is never far from us. Sometimes we allow our pain to deafen our ears to God's still small voice. And sometimes we allow our fears to blind us to God's presence in our lives. I believe that there is no such thing as unanswered prayers - only unheard answers.
Faithful Lord, may I never take your love for granted. Thank you for hearing my prayers. Thank you for being with me through the fiery furnaces of life. Amen.
Marty Ruggles
Cathedral of Hope, Dallas
Minister for Prayer
mruggles@cathedralofhope.com
Don't miss a Daily Devotion or Weekly GOOD News!
Go here to Register at MyCoH Today!
http://www.cathedralofhope.com/members/
Cathedral of Hope Prayer Ministry
Devotion for Wednesday, October 5, 2005.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is from the Hebrew Testament book of Daniel. After the kingdom of Babylon defeated the kingdom of Judah, the Babylonians took the brightest and best of the Jewish people as hostages. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three Jewish hostages who worked for king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. The king decided to build a huge golden idol and decreed that everyone was worship the idol. Anyone who did not worship the idol would be thrown into a blazing furnace.
With motivation like that, everyone worshiped the idol. Except for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego because they would not betray God by worshiping a graven image. They were called before King Nebuchadnezzar and to his face they refused to bow down to the false god. They told him: "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if God does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)
King Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that he ordered the furnace to be stoked up seven times hotter than usual and he commanded that the three men be thrown in the fire. The furnace was so hot that even the soldiers who threw them into the furnace were killed by the flames. But then as everyone was looking into the furnace they realized that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were unhurt. "'Look!' Nebuchadnezzar shouted. 'I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!'" (Daniel 3:25) And the king called the men out of the fire and gave praise to God.
Notice that God did not prevent Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from being thrown in the furnace. God did not put out the fire that was blazing in the furnace. And God did not remove them from the furnace. What God did do was to come down and be with them in the furnace and that is why they survived.
I believe THAT is how God works in our lives. God is not going to prevent us from being thrown into the furnaces of life. Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus say that following him would remove the pain and suffering from our lives. Jesus did promise that he would be with us through the fiery furnaces of our lives. He has never failed to keep that promise.
I believe that God is never silent and that God is never far from us. Sometimes we allow our pain to deafen our ears to God's still small voice. And sometimes we allow our fears to blind us to God's presence in our lives. I believe that there is no such thing as unanswered prayers - only unheard answers.
Faithful Lord, may I never take your love for granted. Thank you for hearing my prayers. Thank you for being with me through the fiery furnaces of life. Amen.
Marty Ruggles
Cathedral of Hope, Dallas
Minister for Prayer
mruggles@cathedralofhope.com
posted by lbutler1 at 5:43 AM
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