For today's reference, please read Daniel 3:14-23.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were thrown into the furnace because they decided that they will not follow the decree made by the king -- to worship the golden image. Showing his intense anger, he gave an order that the furnace be heated up seven times hotter that even the servants who went near it died.

When we make a stand for God, there is bound to be opposition. Opposition comes not only from the government or non-Christians, and it does not only refer to matyrs, but sadly opposition often comes from people who are closest to us; people whom we least expect to hurt us, such as our parents, siblings, best friends, and sadly, more than often, even the church!

Often when we choose to obey God, we'll find something rising up against us and we find ourselves being attacked from every angle. The truth is, the bigger the calling, the greater the opposition. Satan attacks even more aggressively when he knows that you are doing something to bring great damage to his kingdom. But I've got some good news for you: Satan cannot stop what God is doing, but you must never give up! Much as Satan can try to bring you down, he cannot in any way stop us. We must understand his tactics.

Often when we're thrown into the furnace of affliction, we wondered if we did anything wrong. We wondered if this is a punishment from God. We wondered if we had made the right move. Sometimes we start punishing ourselves because we believed that we must have done something wrong to deserve such a 'punishment'. When I first came to my present youth group there was tremendous opposition from the church I was in and I got to a point where I thought that I cannot stand a single moment there anymore. I remember writing to an American youth pastor whom I did not know, and he told me one thing that I will always remember: Remember that whenever you face opposition from the devil, know that you are in the will of God. Your growth ever since coming to your new youth group proved that you're on the right track.

However, we need to respond correctly while in the furnace. I like the way Daniel's three friends responded:

"If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O King. But if not, let it be known to you O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up." Daniel 3: 17-18 (NKJV)

They knew that the God that they worship will deliver them from all harm, and even if He does not, He must have a reason for that. Whatever it is, they will stand firm and not waver in their stand. Sometimes God will deliver us the moment we call out to Him, but sometimes He chooses not to. When God chooses to let us go through the fire, there must be a reason for that. For without the refining fire, there will not be pure gold.

When opposition arises, rest assured that no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

When the fire seems too hot, or when the pain seems unbearable, shift your focus to God instead of the problem. Fix your eyes on God, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Remember that nothing is too hard for God. Begin to imagine the reward that you are going to receive at the end of this race. I think the best thing you can do while in the fire is to start praising God! When you do that, the gates of Hell will tremble and you are actually claiming victory over your situation. It's easy to praise God when things are going well, but not so when the fire is raging.

And so, whenever you face opposition for doing right, know that you are in the will of God. The fire will not destroy you, but you will come out of it unharmed. Always look up to God and trust that He will deliver you from your afflictions. Pray for those who come against you.

PART 2

He said, "Look, I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!" Daniel 3: 25

Imagine the shock King Nebuchadnezzar had when he saw this. He stood there eager to see the 'disobedient' men burnt to death, but what he saw stunned him and his officers. Instead of three dead and burnt men, he now sees four men walking in the fire, unbound and unharmed! Moreover, the fourth man looks like the Son of God! Don't ask me how the king knew that it's the Son of God, but what a shock!

When we're in the furnace, one reason why we should not fear is that Jesus is with us in the fire. God did not promise us to lead us away from the fire, but rather, lead us through the fire. Like in Joshua 1:5, God said to Moses, "I will never leave you nor forsake you..." That is God's promise to everyone. He will always be there. No matter what situation you are in or whatever circumstances you are facing, God is always with you in the fire.

So remember, God cares for you and He will never leave you alone!

PART 3

They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. ~ Daniel 3: 27.

Imagine coming out of a furnace which was heated seven times hotter, unharmed. The real miracle was not the fact that the three survived the ordeal, but rather, it was as if they had never been in the fire at all! Not a hair was burnt, and they did not even smell of smoke! Neither were the robes that they were wearing scorched.

Friends, rest assured that we will always come out of the fire, victorious. The fire will not harm or damage us. We will not be scarred and we won’t even smell of fire!! Upon coming out of that furnace, there will not be a single trace of affliction.

Your life may have been a messed up one. You may have gone through painful circumstances. You may have been scarred and wounded. Whatever it is, if we will allow God to heal us, people are going to be amazed. People will never believe that we have ever gone through all that. People will never believe that we can ever make it through. Through the eyes of the world our wounds and scars may seem permanent, but God will erase all of that. God is going to take away all the trauma and memories. More than that, people are going to look at you with surprise, "Did you really go through ALL that? But … how did you make it? No one can ever makes through it!" "Can you help me out of the fire?" "You don't look like you've been through the fire!" … You don’t even smell of smoke!

God is about to bring out something good out of this ordeal, are you ready?

Part 4

For today’s reference, go to Daniel 3: 28-30

Now instead of worshipping the golden image, King Nebuchadnezzar is turning to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego! More than that, he is giving a decree, not only to his officers or his nation, but to all nations or languages to worship this God.

I love this verse in Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works together for good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes.” Everything will turn out for good. No matter how ugly things may seem now, it can and will turn out for good, but only if we allow God to handle them. Your life may be messed up, you my not understand what is going on, and your situation may seemed impossible, but turn them over to God and see what He can do.

Sometimes instead of going the wrong way, things will turn up in the exact opposite direction. Satan had meant defeat for God when he sent Jesus to the Cross, but God turned it for the good of all mankind. Instead of the death of a Son, God did not only resurrect Him, but He has now brought, through Jesus, many more sons to Himself. And as for Daniel’s three friends, instead of losing their lives in the furnace, not only did the king turn to the God of Heaven and Earth; he even gave a decree to all nations to worship this God!

I’m always amazed at what God can do. I’ve seen Him work in my life, through the storms, and I can testify that whenever I choose to let Him handle the situations, He will always turn them around for good. My life may seem to be a messed up one, I may still be hurting, but I know that one day, after I am completely healed, God will use all my experiences to help others. Nothing will be wasted. The devil had tried to destroy my life through pain and trauma, but God will use all the experiences, the many hurts, to bring hope and encouragement to others. I do not have to wait for the future; I’m seeing it happening in my life now. My friends are encouraged at what is happening in my life, though they might not be Christians.

Surrender everything to God. Don’t struggle any longer; it’s not worth it. Let God handle the situation and see what will come out of it. I can assure you that God will never fail you.

Part 4

For today’s reference, go to Daniel 3: 28-30

Now instead of worshipping the golden image, King Nebuchadnezzar is turning to the God of Shadrach, Mesach and Abed-Nego! More than that, he is giving a decree to his officers or his nation, but to all nations or language to worship this God.

I love this verse in Romans 8:28.And we know that in all things God works together for good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes.” Everything will turn out for good. No matter how ugly things may seem now, it can and will turn out for good, but only if we allow God to handle them. Your life may be messed up, you my not understand what is going on, and your situation may seemed impossible, but turn them over to God and see what He can do.

Sometimes instead going the wrong way, things will turn up the exact opposite direction. Satan had meant defeat for God when he sent Jesus to the Cross, but God turned it for the good for all mankind. Instead of the death of a Son, God did not only resurrect Him, but He has now brought, through Jesus, many more sons to Himself. And as for Daniel’s three friends, instead of losing their lives in the furnace, not only did the King turned to the God of Heaven and Earth; he even gave a decree to all nations to worship this God!

I’m always amazed at what God can do. I’ve seen Him work in my life, through the storms, and I can testify that whenever I choose to let Him handle the situations, He will always turn them around for good. My life may seem to be a messed up one, I may still be hurting, but I know that one day, after I am completely healed, God will use all my experiences to help others. Nothing will be wasted. The devil had tried to destroy my life through pain and trauma, but God will use all the experiences, the many hurts, to bring hope and encouragement to others. I do not have to wait for the future; I’m seeing it happening in my life now. My friends are encouraged at what is happening in my life, though they might not be Christians.

Surrender everything to God. Don’t struggle any longer; it’s not worth it. Let God handle the situation and see what will come out of it. I can assure you that God will never fail you.