What Does It Take?

~~~ Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 ~~~ (Psalm)Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56~~~

~~~ John 8:31-42 ~~~

The Jews were arguing with Jesus with a closed mind.

They were not listening to his words.

They were just repeating what they believed.

There was not reasoning with them.

There was no changing their minds.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, 

you would love me,
for I came from God and am here;
I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

Sometimes no matter what you say 

or how much proof you claim to have

you still will not be believed.

Sadly this is what happens in this dialogue...

The Jews are confronted with the primary source 

and still they refuse to be convinced.

Is this an example of what it means to have a hard heart?

They wanted to hold on to their beliefs no matter what.

They were being presented with the winning lottery numbers,

to put it into today's context, and they refused them.

It is possible to be just as convinced by misinformation as it is 

by the factual information?

It takes wisdom and discernment to tell the difference.

The Jews were skeptical and it cost them dearly. 

...who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?

By contrast in the book of Daniel we find three young men 

who are thrown into a blazing fire for their strong beliefs.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 

believed in the one true God to the point

 of choosing death over worshiping the false idol. 

These three had trust beyond comprehension...

they had no doubt that God would intervene...that he would save them.

As we know from today's reading form the book of Daniel,

God saves them in a most spectacular way.

He surrounds them with his protection from the consuming flames.

God not only saves them he sends down an angel to be with them.

God envelopes them with his protection.

God wants to extend this same level of protection to us.

Is your faith like that of the Jews arguing with Jesus?

Is your faith like that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

For myself, I am probably somewhere in between.

How many times, Lord, do I argue 

with truth and goodness when it is in my face?

Would I crumble if faced with the flames of the fiery furnace?

God is all powerful, yet he still allows

 us to exercise our free will.

He does not force the Jews to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

He did not force the three men to choose flames 

over worshiping the golden idol.

I am reminded of a song we sing in Taize....

Bless the Lord my soul and bless God's holy name...

We give you praise and glory

forever.

The Lord has blessed us...

He has done great things for us...

Blessed is his name.

Peace.

Glory and Praise Forever

~~~ Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 ~~~ Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 ~~~ John 8:31-42 ~~~

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  

 To be a true disciple of the Lord requires great sacrifices.

To be a disciple of Jesus means that you are his student;

one willing to learn from the master teacher.

IF you are a true disciple you accept the teachings of Jesus...

in accepting these teachings you imitate them in your own life.

We are eager to be a disciple of Jesus because we believe that he is the one true God.

We believe that he has a covenant with us...

a covenant of salvation...our salvation.

The three young men written about in the book of Daniel

were willing to be thrown into the fiery furnace instead of worshiping false gods.

They believed that God would come to their assistance for their steadfast faith.

God did send an angel to protect them from the consuming fires.

Their salvation brought forth joyful songs of praise for all that God had done.

Glory and praise for ever!

  

 These three young men called out for all of creation to bless the Lord.

They had such faith as to speak out praises for the Lord

even as they circled in the scorching flames.

There certainly was nothing they could do or say that would have adequately

thanked the Lord for their lives.

So that brings us to where we are today; just days before Holy Week.

How can we begin to thank God for saving us from the flames of sin?

The simple answer is to give him praise and glory.

All we can really do is be thankful and humbly accept his generous mercy.

The most we can do is to constantly strive to live the life

even partially as he intended us to live. 

To live as his disciples...to live in love, mercy, and compassion.

Though we may walk through the burning flames

we will not be harmed because God will protect us.

He will walk beside us protecting us, leading us out of the fire.

May we forever sing the praises of the Lord fro he has been good to us...

he has done great things for us.

 We give you Glory and Praise almighty God.

Protect us from the flames of sinfulness.

Amen.