09- 22-10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Daniel 3: 16- 18)
GOD IS PLEASED FOR OUR LABOR OF LOVE
16- “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17- If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18- But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
What happened to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego reminds me of the boy who came to me about his family. He was sharing to me about his family and how he felt rejected. These 3 men were cast into the fiery furnace. They were rejected and ejected as commanded by king Nebuchadnezzar.
The Lord heard the prayer of His people and He accepted them. God accepts us as we are. God answered the prayers of His children in spite of the people’s opposition to their cause and they stood for the Lord our God. God accepted us for our salvation. God accepted us in spite of our suffering and pain. Those who go through trials, suffering or pain will not make them less spiritual Christians. The Lord by His grace accepted us in His family with His unconditional love. God accepted us in our weakness and when we have no strength. (Romans 5: 6) “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” God accepts our service of love. We serve the Lord God Almighty. (John 12: 26) “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” Serving the Lord is an opportunity and actually a great privilege. The Lord someday will reward us in our labor of love. God will reward us in our love for the lost. (Daniel 12: 2- 3) 2- “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3- And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” King Nebuchadnezzar took them to the judgment hall and to the fiery burning furnace. They were demoted, pressured, oppress and persecuted. They suffered in spite of their faithful service for our Lord. These 3 faithful Jews were rewarded evil for their goodness, faithfulness and service for God. (Daniel 3: 12) “There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” The Lord will not forget our labor of love for Him and for our fellowmen especially those who are of the household of faith. (Hebrews 13:160- “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Galatians 6: 10) “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
God was there when they suffered, labor and work hard for the cause of the Lord and in standing for what is right and the truth of God. Paul encouraging words for us Christians in (I Thessalonians 1: 3)- “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”
