December 6, 2006 - Daniel 3-4 and I John 5

As I read Daniel 3 and 4, I realize how hard it is for a person to trust God if his heart is filled with pride and independence. Unfortunately, most people have hearts that are filled with pride and independence like Nebuchadnezzar. We marvel at how he could see the miracle of the fiery furnace and still not totally believe in God, but that is what happened. Even after 7 years of living like a beast, we are not sure that he came to know the Lord by faith. All we know is that He knew God was in charge.(4:37) How is your heart? What will it take for you to be totally dependent on God? What would it take for you to trust God like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego? That should be our goal. Once we reach that goal, we will have Christ with us to help us in the midst of any fiery trial, but until then, we will be trying to handle it ourselves. God can't help us completely, until we trust Him completely.

I John 5 emphasizes this need. What is it that overcomes the world? It is our faith in Jesus Christ each day.(v.4,5) What will we do, if we trust Him? We will love Him and keep His commandments like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Once we know God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we have the confidence that God hears us, and He will always accomplish His will in our lives. (v.14-15) The wicked one can't touch us, just like the fire did not touch the three Hebrew men.(v.18) It all comes through trusting the Lord and not ourselves.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Daniel 5-7 and II John.