760 degrees
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 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, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Pay careful attention to that last line....
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods...
Christianity has become a world of beg beg beg and give God nothing because nothing has He given us. That's the mind set many many people have in Church today. Now I talked about this a bit in my post We are Healed... but here I want to shine a different light on this subject.
People tend to come to Christ only to be the lame man by the pool. You've heard the Bible story (John 5:1-18) about the cripple man who laid by the pool who couldn't get in the water when it was stirred. I often wonder if this man really really wanted to be healed. I mean, he laid by this pool for some 38 years and hundreds of times the pool had been stirred and yet the man couldn't ever make it into the pool. We often lay on that cripple man's mat and never ever make the effort to get into the pool. A little secret, Jesus didn't heal that man for his own sake. He did it so others might believe in Him.
So what am I talking about? Point Blank- When a Pastor makes the call for the sick and needy to come to the alter to ask for prayer... I think, what are these people doing for God? A lady isn't walking and is pushed to the front in a wheel chair. Many people limping or sniffling towards the alter. People crying out to God for help for many thing. But when the pastor ends the service how many will leave and go home to sit in front of the TV till next Sunday's alter call? I never had much luck winning the lottery so why should God heal these people? Is God thinking- I'm going to bless Mrs Heartbroken because she prayed and cried a lot more than everyone else down front this Sunday. Honestly, think about that, but don't get all hot under the collar just yet. Look up top to that very first Bible verse I quoted from Daniel.
Who or what is your Nebuchadnezzar?
You serve God no matter what with all you are through that pain and strive to be more than you are. If you are stuck in a wheel chair push yourself through that fire and honor Christ by being a witness that even though you are in that chair you love God with all your heart. No matter if it is the flames of a furnace or a sore knee that clicks when you bend down you push forward and get into that pool. If you do this with an honest and true heart, that no matter if God saves you from this pain or not, you're still in his hands. He will take care of you.
One famous quote that people often say that is from the Bible but isn't, is well fitting here.
God helps those who help themselves. -Benjamin Franklin
I honestly believe those who are not afraid and are willing to walk into the furnace will see the Power of God.
Show me where to step Father so I can firmly place my feet.