Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. --1 Peter 1:6-7

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is the one about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

As we read in the Old Testament, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold that was eight stories tall. He commanded all his people to bow down and worship the idol when they heard the music play. Those who didn't would be thrown into the fiery furnace.

When the music sounded, everyone obeyed-except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (rulers over the province of Babylon, thanks to their friend Daniel). This made Nebuchadnezzar furious. He called the men forward and gave them another chance. If they didn't obey this time, they would surely be thrown into the furnace.

These men said to the king, "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... But even if he does not, we want you to know...that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

So Nebuchadnezzar ordered his soldiers to throw them in. The young men were bound and tossed into the blazing furnace, which instantly killed the soldiers who took them to their fate.

Nebuchadnezzar noticed that instead of three men in the fire, there were four men walking around, unbound and unharmed! He called out Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who walked out unscathed, not even smelling of smoke.

Nebuchadnezzar then exclaimed, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego... They trusted in him...and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God" (Daniel 3:28).

This is an amazing testimony! It gives me chills just thinking about it. It's good for all of us to revisit this story because it reminds us of three things: 1) we should be bold in the face of adversity; 2) we can know that, in the fiery furnaces of life, Jesus walks with us; and 3) through it all, our faith is refined.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: God, give me faith and boldness like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had. Thank You for carrying me through the fiery trials of life!