Daniel may be one of my favorite books in the bible. And so, when I found out the She Reads Truth was doing a study on it, I didn’t care that it’d be my fifth time reading it through from start to finish. I got excited. And today, I was reminded again of how great our God is {even though we stopped just before God shows His power and faithfulness}. Specifically the verses.
If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will never serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. {3: 17-18 || ESV}
"but if not, …"
To have a faith like those men {Meshach, Adegnego, and Shadrach} who declared that God will deliver them from the fiery furnace. Who were also confident enough to say, “but if not…” they would never serve their gods or worship their images. I long to have a faith like that — I aim, daily, to be reminded of this kind of faith in God.
The commentary from todays quiet time is something I would like to share — She Reads Truth says,
“And if not…”I feel like that’s the rally cry of my faith. I hold on to the idea that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had. I believe that God will show up, that He will show up here on Earth and move in His people and move mountains.“And, if not…”And if not, He is still good. He is still the King Most High. He alone is still worthy of our worship. It is still worth it. It would be far better for me to perish than to live a life of bowing down to a lesser god.We may not live under a government that dictates who or what we can worship, but how often do we voluntarily allow idols to take residence in our life? Comfort, safety, health, wealth. How often do we bow down and sacrifice for those things?I have hopes. I have desires. If I’m honest, sometimes I hope God’s desires line up with my desires for my life, not the other way around.But, I believe I’d give up comfort, safety, health and wealth to more fully know God. I believe that giving up those things would benefit me here on Earth. And, if not, I have the comfort of knowing there is glory in Eternity.Do you have something you are hoping God will show up and do? Do you trust that He is good to grant that desire? Do you trust that He is also good in the “And, if not…”?
