This is a frightening/challenging passage: Dan 3:17-18. You remember the story. King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego serve his gods and worship his golden image. They were told that if they did not worship king Nebuchadnezzar that he would throw them into a furnace of blazing fire. They responded thus, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.
There is a time coming when Christians will have the opportunity to make this kind of decision. And, even today, there are many people who are having to make this kind of decision”. I reported on this passage back on page 36. “Yikes…” I think about this from time to time. How confident am I that He will deliver me? I’ve never really had to do it yet. What’s been your experience? Can we trust Him to deliver us from the “furnace”? Have you had to do it? What’s been your outcome?