Do Not Be Afraid or Ashamed

I have never been in fear or persecuted for sharing my faith and

for that I’m thankful and blessed. We live in a free world for the

most part where we can say anything – good or bad.

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar was upset that Shadrach,

Meshach and Abednego did not worship the golden image that he set

up. He told them that if they continued in not worshipping the

image, he would throw them into a “burning fiery furnace.” The

three of them, however, continued to say they would not worship the

King’s god. They said that the God they served was able to deliver

them out of the burning fiery furnace, but that if He chose not to

deliver them that they still would not worship the King’s god. They

would only worship and serve their God.

This infuriated the King and he had them bound and put into a

furnace. The furnace was heated seven times hotter than normal. The

fire was so hot that it killed the men who were ordered to put them

in there. The King at one point looked inside the furnace and was

amazed, because he said he saw four loose men. That no one was

bound, and they were walking around amid the fire and were not

hurt. The fourth person that the King said he saw was in the form of

the Son of God.

King Nebuchadnezzar then commanded them to come out.

When they came out, he and all the princes, governors, captains and

the Kings counselor’s saw that they were not bound. Their clothes

were not burned, not one hair of their head was singed, and they

didn’t even smell like fire. The King then realized that their God was

the one true God and that He had sent His angel to save His

servants. He then changed the decree and said that if anyone spoke

against the God of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego they would

be cut into pieces, and their houses would be ruined because their

God was the one true God. After this these three men were

promoted.

There are many other stories of people being persecuted for

their faith, but that didn’t stop them. In Acts we read about Paul

being beaten and put in prison several times. God, though, repeatedly

provided means of miraculous circumstances to get him out of prison

and provide for him. Paul continued serving God regardless of what

came his way because he knew he had a mission to fulfill.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, “On the contrary, we speak as those

approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying

to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”

Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because

it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who

believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego took a stand for God and

would not back down even though they knew they faced being

burned to death. They knew God had the power to deliver them, but

they didn’t ask for it. They chose God above all things – even their

own lives. Being put into a furnace would be a horrible and painful

death to go through, but God delivered them, and the King’s heart

was changed.

We do not face that in the United States – at least not yet. We

must stand for Christ no matter what others will think about us. We

are to please God in all things, not men. We cannot be ashamed of

the gospel. We are here to win souls for God’s kingdom because

that’s our mission. We cannot do that though if we are afraid of what

others will think of us. God is always with us, and just like those

three men – He always wins by our standing up for our one true

God.

What About You?

1. Are there situations or reasons you hide your faith?

2. What would you say God thinks about us hiding our faith?

From God's Garden Tools by Gina Burns