Next Level Spiritual Gangstas

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Today’s Reading: Daniel 3-4; 1 John 5

Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego were spiritual gangstas.

Period.

I remember hearing this story as a kid and the focus was on how they were thrown into the furnace and made it out alive because they were saved by God and their faith. But now that I’m an adult you know what the coldest part of this story is to me?

“But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Whoa… that’s serious…

When I think about faith it’s about what God WILL do, not what God can do. But these dudes were like we know God can do it, but even if he doesn’t save us we’re still not going to disobey Him.

Clearly these fellas are on another level.

When I think about my life and my faith in God I see that I’m just not that spiritually mature yet. I’m way too focused on what God does for me in ways that I can see rather than just loving God and trusting in Him. I think that’s why the book of Job was such a fascinating struggle for me. I could identify with Job’s laments. He did all this work to try to be the best that he could be and STILL all this calamity fell upon him. What’s up with that? Shouldn’t God treat us how we deserve to be treated based on our actions?

Ummm… actually that’s not the business. If that were the case then my monumental imperfections would have done me in a long time ago.

This next level faith is about transcending from being focused on material to being focused on the spiritual. For these three brothas they cared more about their spiritual lives than their eternal ones and were willing to be burnt up to prove it.

I’m so thankful that I don’t live in a place where I am repressed for what I believe. There are plenty of folks who face these kinds of furnaces all over the world. My heart and prayers go out to them.

But even in my much more comfortable world I know that my faith has and will be tested. My goal is to get stronger each and every day so that every time this does happen I am more and more steady in my walk.

For as much as God has done for me, I can work harder to step up the spiritual gangsta that I have growing inside of me.