Daniel 3: 19-29
After witnessing the miracle of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being saved by an angel in the fire of the blazing furnace in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar and all the court officials could not help but recognize God’s incredible power to strengthen and deliver those who are faithful to Him.
These three men, even though their homeland, their customs, and even their identities were stolen from them in Babylon, refused to submit to any power that was not the Lord. Because of their faithfulness in exile, the Lord gave them His strength. After refusing to bow down and worship the golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar, Ol’ Nebby was furious; he ordered them to be thrown into the fire, burning seven times hotter than usual. And yet not even this egotistical display of power and vengeance could stop the delivering power of the Lord.
When we train our own bodies, it is easy to be like Nebuchadnezzar. It is easy to think we are in control of the fire, to think we are better than we really are, to think all our strength and might comes from within. But we do not control the fire, and the strength of our ego will only take us so far.
God calls us to remain humble and steadfast in our faithfulness as we feel the fire. It WILL intensify and we WILL need the strength of God to push through. Anyone who had trained to failure knows that once your muscles start burning, the ego begins to panic and the temptation to stop intensifies in step with the fire of the workout itself. It is in these moments where we need the strength of God the most.
Rely on the Lord your God to give you strength and deliver you from the fire. By remaining faithful and humble in your training, seeking God’s strength over your own, you will surpass the limits of your ego. The fire will have no power over you, and you will come out of it stronger than before in mind, body, and spirit.
By iron, through iron, to iron. Laudate!
God Bless,
The Laudate Team
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