Daniel 3

"King Neb. made an image of gold, 90 feet high and 9 feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So they came and stood before it.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, 'This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Neb. has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.

At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to the King, there are some Jews whom you have set over affairs of the province of Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (S. M. & A.) - who pay no attention to you. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up. Furious with rage the king summoned them.

S. M. & A. replied to the king ' O King, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in that matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. '

The king was furious and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated 7 times hotter than usual and commanded some strong soldiers to tie up S. M. & A. and to throw them into the furnace. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who stood before the furnace, then S. M. & A fell into the fire.

Watching the fire the king was amazed that he saw 4 men walking around in the fire, unbound, & unharmed. He yelled to them to come out of the fire. He saw the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed, nor clothing scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Then King Neb Praised the God of S. M. & A. and said ' They trusted in their God and defiled the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.' He than proclaimed that anyone who said anything against the God of S. M. & A. would be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into a pile of rubble.

Then the king promoted S. M. & A. in the province of Babylon.

One Powerful Thought

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego

were unwilling to compromise their convicitons,

even in the face of death!

There is great strength when you stand with

others with whom you share the same conviction.