An Invitation
Over our lifetimes we will give and receive many invitations. Some to things like birthday parties and events, dances and weddings. We will attend some and decline others. There may even be activities that we are expected to attend that don’t feel at all like an invitation, but rather a command.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were invited to or rather commanded to attend a national event, the dedication of an enormous statue that the king had set up. Several times the bible gives a full list of all the instruments, that when sounded, would signal the call to bow down and worship the statue.
The details were very clear and even after they refused, the instructions and command were given again. This time their refusal was met with rage and the furnace was heated seven times hotter before they were thrown in.
The story continues that they miraculously did not burn, but rather they were walking around in the furnace with a fourth man whose appearance was that of a god. (Daniel 3:25 )
Upon seeing the four men in the furnace, King Nebuchadnezzar issued another invitation, ““Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
A comment about this invitation in the book, Of Fire and Lions, by Mesu Andrews, said, “Nebuchadnezzar invited the three Hebrews out of the fire – not the Lord.” “The fourth man in the furnace walked deeper into the flames and disappeared, uninvited by Babylon’s King to enter his council.”
Just like the three Hebrews, God walks with us through our fiery trials. He is right there with us and He goes before us. I have a plaque that reads, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, God is already there.” The three Hebrews knew that and God rewarded their faith with His presence.
God has given us His invitation to accept His grace. We have the opportunity to invite His presence into each day of our lives. Unlike King Nebuchadnezzar, I want God’s council in my life. I need His presence when I’m experiencing the refining of a fiery trial. I want His peace that He is in control and even if the outcome is not what’s expected, I will be walking with Him.
We will have trials in this life and I would much rather go through them with Christ. He has a purpose for them that is explained in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Christ was revealed to all who watched the three Hebrews. Their faith prompted the king to proclaim, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
We all have been given the invitation to live for Christ. Have you accepted the invitation? If so, I pray that people see Jesus in you. If not, you can right now. It’s as simple as ABC.
A – Admit to God that you are a sinner. Repent,turning away from your sin.“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
B – Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept God’s gift of forgiveness from sin.“While we were sinners,Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
C – Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.“If you will confess with your mouth,”Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
How to Pray:
Dear God, I am sorry for my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me. I ask Jesus to come into my life to be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for loving me and saving me from my sins. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I would be honored to pray that prayer with you. If you would like prayer or if you prayed that prayer for the first time today, please use the prayer request tab on the main page and let me know. Welcome to the family of God!
Where does my help come from?
Romans 10:13
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”