WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN IMMOVABLE OBJECT meets an unstoppable force? I’m not sure, but the collision is sure to make a lot of noise. That’s kind of what happens in the third chapter of the Book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar builds an idol of gold some 90 feet tall that everyone must bow down to and worship (think “immovable object”). The only problem is that Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – completely refuse to fall down before the image (think “unstoppable force”). The result is as you would expect: King Nebuchadnezzar gets really ticked off and decides to throw them into a furnace heated seven times its normal temperature. The three Jewish young men’s response is classic – “Our God will deliver us. But even if he doesn’t, we’re still not worshipping your gods.” In the end, they are delivered by a “fourth man” in the fire who has an appearance “like a son of the gods.”
The story of God’s persecuted people hasn’t always ended with physical deliverance. As Hebrews 13:35-37 reads, “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword.” The history of the Church has told a similar story. Yet, for each Christian who has experienced persecution, God’s promise to never leave or forsake them has been realized.
The question for us today is, “Are we willing to suffer for the sake of Christ and the gospel? Are we willing to endure persecution because of the name of Jesus?” Though this question hasn’t had to be answered by many Christians in the United States, that may not always be the case. As Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer would attest, nations can quickly turn against followers of Christ. So, how do we better prepare our hearts and minds for persecution that might come? I think there are three ways.
Embrace The Fact That Persecution Is To Be An Expected Part Of The Christian Experience.
In his second letter to his protégé Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,” and “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 1:8, 3:12). To the Philippian church, Paul wrote, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29). Suffering for the gospel was common in the first century and continues to be common in many places around the world today.
Choose To Make Regular Sacrifices That Require You To Lose Something.
Jesus told his disciples to take up their cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). Each day there is something for the sake of Christ that we can offer that costs us -– our time, our money, our attention, our reputation, our comfort.
The more we do this on a regular basis, the more God can trust us to be faithful when much more is demanded of us because of our faith.
Read Accounts of Modern-Day Persecution And Pray For Those Being Mistreated.
Other people’s stories encourage us – especially when those stories prove God to be faithful through our trials and difficulties. When we hear of their strength, we believe that God can enable us to persevere as well. The Lord calls us to not only be strengthened by others’ stories but to strengthen persecuted brothers and sisters through our prayers (Romans 15:3-31; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3). Two places where you can read stories of the persecuted and pray for them can be found at the following websites: opendoorsusa.org and persecution.com.
PRAYER
Jesus, I want to be willing to stand for you – in my school, in my workplace, in my community, among my friends and family. At times I wonder what other people might think if I bring up your name or share the story of your life with others. Help me to have courage to bear the name of Christ regardless of what people might say. Help me also to not bow down to the idols of our culture, even if it costs me something. Amen.
PONDER
- What do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s words in Daniel 3:16-18 say about their belief in Yahweh?
- What do you believe led these three young men to express such courage?
- Can you think of a time in your life when it was difficult to bear the name of Christ? How did you respond?