WALKING IN THE FLAMES

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, securely tied fell into the roaring flames.” Dan 3:22 NLT

            The three men, who refused to worship anything but the Living God, were thrown into fierce flames bound by cords.  Yet in the midst of the burning blaze they walked, free.  Yes they were liberated with Jesus walking with them.

            Am I often thrown into a fiery trial bound?  Bound by burdens? Bound by worries?  Bound by fear?

            Yet when Jesus meets me in the fire, I am set free.  When I seek Him, when I lean on Him, when I praise Him, I am delivered.  Not FROM the fiery blaze, but IN the midst of the flames, I am liberated.  I am set free from those things that kept me from rejoicing and depending ONLY on Him. And I find peace that surpasses all understanding.

“Look I see four men unbound and walking in the fire unharmed!” Dan. 3:25 NLT

            Not burning, not dying, not hiding, but WALKING in the midst of a fire so hot the men who threw them in were killed. 

            When a terrible burning blaze falls on me, I want nothing more then to hide in a hole, cover up my head and never come out.  I want to run from the pain. 

“And the fourth is like a god!” Dan. 3:25b

            The Son of God meets me in the fiery furnace.  Jesus walks with me. When I want only to run or hide, He holds my hand and keeps me upright.  I can stand tall.  I can walk into the fire.  I can stride through the blaze unbound by any tethers.  I can rejoice, I can praise, I can thank my Glorious Lord, because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies walks by my side!

 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

For I hold you by your right hand–I the Lord your God.  And I say to you “Don’t be afraid.  I am here to help you.”  Isaiah 41:10, 13 NLT

‘The road is too rough,’ I said; ‘It is uphill all the way; 
No flowers, but thorns instead;
And the skies over head are grey.’
But One took my hand at the entrance dim,
And sweet is the road that I walk with Him.

“The cross is too great,’ I cried–
‘More than the back can bear,
So rough and heavy and wide,
And nobody by to care.’
And One stooped softly and touched my hand:
‘I know. I care. And I understand.’

“Then why do we fret and sigh;
Cross-bearers all we go:
But the road ends by-and-by
In the dearest place we know,
And every step in the journey we
May take in the Lord’s own company.

from Streams in the Dessert by L.B. Cowman