Standing in the Fire

"I love you, Lord, my strength, my rock, my fortress, my savior. My God is the rock where I take refuge; my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold. The Lord is worthy of all praise: when I call I am saved from my foes." - Psalm 18:2-4

Prayer: Lord God, everything is known to You, everything is in tha palm of You hands, may I keep myself ever in You care. May I be docile and obedient to You and Your will for me. Amen.

Standing in the Fire

In our first reading, we have the heroic example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They testify to having great faith and trust in God. The three of them were advisors to the king. They were known for their knowledge and wisdom. Normally this knowledge and wisdom was to their credit and honor, but on this occasion it was to the rage of the King.

King Nebuchadnezzar ordered all to bow down and worship the statue whenever a musicall instrument was played, otherwise they would be thrown instantly into a blazing white-hot furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo will not forsake the Lord. They know God and they know Him to be true. They say to King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue that you set up.” In this statement they state that they know the Lord to be true and that even if it should not be God's will that they be protected from the flames they still trust God's purposes, knowing that He may have other plans for them.

For us, these three give us a fomula that we can imitate. When we experience trial, we are to look to God in such a way that we see Him for who He really is. That God created everything and nothing escapes His notice. God knows every grain of sand on the shores and rivers, the moisture in the ground and in the air, our every thought and utterance, the intellectual movements of the angels (both fallen and in beatitude). When the world seems to go awry, God has a plan, a plan which He wants us to act in, both in our words and deeds. 

When we feel like we are standing in the fire, may we know that we do not have to stand alone, we can call on the God of the universe.

May God richly bless you!

-Fr. Jeremy

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