Daniel 3:16-18 – Making a difference with solid faith.

Daniel 3:16-18 shows us what solid and genuine faith looks like. It is composed of two critical elements. First, there is an unwavering confidence in God to deliver, and second, trust in His faithfulness even when the desired result doesn’t seem forthcoming.

Threatened to be thrown into the fiery furnace by the furious king if they still refused to bow down to the golden image, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego responded to the king this way:

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If so, the God we serve can deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

What do they mean? Here’s how Eugene Peterson paraphrased their words. “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if He doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 – The Message).

What audacity! In their response to the king, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego displayed great courage and boldness. They showed both elements of solid and genuine faith. They were prepared to go through anything, even the worst possible consequence. Such a faith stays confident in and faithful to God. It guarantees that He will deliver; if He doesn’t, which is unlikely, we will remain loyal and faithfully trust Him.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God; we who come to Him must believe that He is able and willing and that He rewards those who seek Him diligently.

God wants us to draw near to Him with such faith—the kind that is full of confidence in Him and fully assured that He can deliver. And even if the outcome we hope to see is not immediately apparent, commitment and trust in Him remain strong and faithful, regardless!

When we approach God, we must have faith. This will help us to make a difference in our lives and experiences.