June 15
‘The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.’ 2 Timothy 4:18a
Bible reading: Daniel 3:13-18 (Go to the Bible passage)
Do not think that such gruesome things as described here only happened in ancient times. In the modern world too, hatred against God has driven civilized people to kill - among others - six million Jews, only because they were Jews, because they were God’s people.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were willing to die for their God, rather than worship the foolish idols of Nebuchadnezzar. These men were imbued with the certainty that human existence outreaches life here on earth.
Jesus once said, ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul’ (Matthew 10:28a).
People who are materialistically-minded seek their fortune in this temporary life, but people who have met God in their lives, realize there is more to life than our temporary existence here on earth.
The blazing furnace was terrible and these three men could barely believe that God was able to rescue them from it. But in spite of that they could not bow down before an idol.
When Jesus has delivered us from all idolatry, people around us will get angry when we cannot join them anymore in satisfying our religious feelings in liturgical services where a concept of God is central instead of the living Lord.
People who lost the true meaning of faith will not be brought back to God by our indignant ‘no’ to idols. Only our genuine adherence to the Lord will make that they - through our trust in God - will see miracles happen again and therefore will kneel down with us before the living Lord.

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