Life Witness

Some would do almost anything to stay out of conflict, out of the spotlight. Most do not like to be singled out from a crowd for any reason. And when it does happen most would compromise much, maybe every thing just to stay out of the way and remain conspicuously in the background, to remain in the crowd.

It's those times and those compromises, though, that show who we are, what we are made of, what we really believe. These are really God given opportunities to give a life witness. What does yours say?

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3 is about just that. They were singled out because they were not bowing to a statue. (of Nebuchadnezzar?) But when given a second chance by the king, they didn't compromise, they didn't work to please the king. Instead they dug deep into themselves and their faith and showed some God-given intestinal fortitude(guts). And when they did reveal their faithfulness to God, two things happened...

1. Their lives were witnesses. They went into the fire not kicking and screaming, but willingly. They said, "If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us...but even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference...we still wouldn't serve your gods." (Daniel 3:17-18, Msg)

2. God's work was a witness. Nebuchadnezzar saw with his own eyes what happened. It wasn't a magic trick or an illusion. It wasn't anything that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did or could have done because it was God who showed up in the furnace.

When we are faithful, our lives tell a story AND God is revealed. But it takes the first to bring about the second. In fact, when we fail to show our faith, or we show our lack of faith, God is mocked.

Think of Peter on the night of Jesus' betrayal. God surely wasn't revealed in his life as he denied he was a part of this movement or a friend of Jesus!

His life witnessed to something. Yours and mine do to. The question is, "What?"

I don't know what I'd do if someone bound me preparing to throw me into a furnace. I'd like to think that I'd go praising God and praying for God's help in God's own way. But when our life is on the line it's hard to tell what we'd do. Yet that just may be when the true nature of our faith is revealed.

May God grant us strength to be ready for that time, should it ever come!

Peace ><>
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