In Daniel Chapter 3, we find the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel’s friends, who courageously followed the Lord regardless of the fact that it could very well cost them their lives.
Because they refused to bow down to the king’s idol, they were sentenced to death by fire. The Bible tells us that Nebuchadnezzar was so angry with them that he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than it would normally be.
As I got reading that chapter, two things stood out to me. The first, was the fourth man in the fire–a good reminder that God walks alongside us.
The second thing I noticed was that they were unbound and unharmed. The Bible specifically tells us that they were firmly tied up when they went in, in fact, it’s mentioned three times in Daniel Chapter 3.
I think the reason it’s stated so clearly is because this part of the story is significant. It teaches us that although affliction is tough, it can also be freeing, as we are loosed from the things that once bound us. When we break away from the sin that once held us captive, we find ourselves enduring the pain that comes with refinement. In the same way that God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He takes us out of that place of darkness and death. He breaks the chains of bondage that once held us in slavery, and sets us free.
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Tilling the Soil
Read Daniel Chapter 3.
Planting Hope
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV)
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About the Author
DARLENE SCHACHT is an award-winning and NYT best-selling author. She is the founder of Time-Warp Wife Ministries, an online publication that encourages women to live Christ-centered lives.
Her passion for scripture and hunger for truth is the driving force behind a unique ministry that offers Bible studies and daily marriage prayers. Darlene is joined by her husband Michael on the daily podcast “5-Minute Marriage.”
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