Standing Firm for Jesus

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took a bold stand when they refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. When I look at their example I wonder how I would do in a similar situation.  Looking back over the chapter, I see three things (of course there are 3 things!) that they had that helped them to stand firm that can help us also to stand firm today as Christians. 

1) They had each other. 

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were able to stand firm because they had the support of each other. This is why attending church and being involved in a Sunday School Class is so important. We stand firm when we join together. To get out of the habit of coming to church is the fast path to become easily entangled in the idolatry of this world. 

2) They had biblical convictions.

17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

They had resolved in verse 18 not to bow because they had been commanded in Scripture 

In the 10 Commandments passage in Exodus 20 we read, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…

We need to read our Bibles and develop convictions so that we also will stand against the sins of this world. 

3) They had Jesus.  

Though they were thrown into the fire, bound, the king looked and saw that they were standing in the fire with a fourth man. I believe that this 4th man was clearly Jesus. Jesus helps us to stand when we go through the fires of life. Jesus promised us in His Great Commission that He would be with us always, even to the ends of the earth. Since we have Jesus, let us live bold lives of faith and shine as lights in this dark world. 

May God bless us with boldness to stand firm for Jesus in this wicked generation!

- Bro. Dave