Beyond a Transactional Faith

Read Daniel 3

                Today, we move to famous trio Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  What’s that you say?  You’ve never heard of them?  Well, you might know them by the Babylonian names they were given – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  Or if you’re a Veggie Tales fan, they are Rack, Shack, and Benny.  Whatever names you know them by, they were (along with Daniel, who we’ll talk about tomorrow) Jewish exiles chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar to serve in his court.   If you are an attender at Arlington UMC, you may recall that I did a sermon on this story earlier this summer.  But I have a little more to say about them now.

                These three amigos got in trouble with the king because they would not bow down to a statue erected by the King for everyone to worship.  As decreed, they were to be thrown in the furnace and burned alive for refusing to conform.  If you read or know the story, then you know they were saved by God and because of that, the King became a respecter of God.

                I want to point out my favorite part of the story.  It is when the King first confronts Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  Here’s the conversation:

                “Nebuchadnezzar said to them: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I’ve set up?  If you are now ready to do so, bow down and worship the gold statue I’ve made when you hear the sound of horn, pipe, zither, lyre, harp, flute, and every kind of instrument. But if you won’t worship it, you will be thrown straight into the furnace of flaming fire. Then what god will rescue you from my power?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar: “We don’t need to answer your question.  If our God—the one we serve—is able to rescue us from the furnace of flaming fire and from your power, Your Majesty, then let him rescue us. But if he doesn’t, know this for certain, Your Majesty: we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you’ve set up.” (Daniel 3:14-18)

                Our heroes’ response touches me deeply every time I read it.  They don’t say, “our God will save us, so bring on the furnace!”  Instead, they boldly state that whether God saves them or not, they will NOT bow down to the statue.  This is a faith in God that goes deeper than “I serve God because God takes care of me.” This is “I serve God because God is the only God.”

                I’d like to think I could be as bold and faith-filled as that, but honestly I don’t know what I would do in the same situation.  I also not-so-secretly hope I don’t ever have to find out.  But here’s what I do hope; I hope that I am moving towards a faith in God that has less and less to do with what God can do for me and more and more towards a faith in God that is all about what I can do for God.  I hope we all are on that journey.

Prayer:  God of us all, we all come to you because of your goodness to us; help us become people that are becoming good for the honor of your Name. Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for Jacob Blake (the man who was shot in the back 7 times by police) and for his kids who witnessed the shooting.  Pray also for the families of the 2 people who were killed at a protest for the Blake shooting. 

Song:  Ford Leary – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego