happened? The three “ fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace” and stood up free. So strik ing was their dedication and deliverance that when King Nebuchadnezzar next spoke he said, “ Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces . . . because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort” (Daniel 3:28, 29). Such dedication glorified God and with it fear can not coexist. Further, if you are to live above fear, your Christian life must be disciplined. The Scriptures warn us that we are living in days of apostasy, that Satan will deceive the very elect if possible. In order to stand, our own lives must be disciplined. It is not enough to be well fed once a week at church. When the great test came in Daniel’s life, he stood firm. Where did he get his spirit ual strength? As a young man, Daniel determined in his heart “not to defile himself.” He maintained a disciplined life, not separated from the world but from worldliness. The Scriptures say that three times a day he met his God. Such discipline had its payoff when he was thrown into the lion’s den. Satan is himself a roaring lion seek ing whom he may devour. Many, in our day, have been destroyed. You and I are vulnerable. Spiritual discipline is necessary if we are to stand. We are told, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:7, 8). Lastly, you must be totally active. Many of God’s children are no more involved in the program of Jesus Christ than to attend church on Sunday. They are not really concerned with the things that concern God. Their activity is wrapped up in personal interests. What is God’s great concern today? The answer to this question is given in Luke 24:46: “ . . . it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” God’s first concern was for a lost world. For mankind He provided a wonderful salvation. Across verse 46 you can write the words, “ It is finished.” But now note verse 47: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” This simply tells us that God is concerned that all men should have a knowledge of the salvation He has provided. Across this verse you must write the word, “Unfinished.” Are you personally active in accom plishing God’s purpose or are you leaving it up to some one else? If you really love Jesus Christ, you will become vitally active for Him. Like Paul, you will declare your self a debtor and do all possible to pay your debt to God and to lost men. You will acknowledge your responsibility as a steward “ of the manifold grace of God” and be faith ful in sacrificial giving. You will thank God that you have been made “ a trustee of the Gospel” and wdll take the riches of Christ’s salvation to the “heirs of salvation.” Your constant thought will be,“ What can / do to please my Lord?” You will find that fear cannot coexist in a life so dedicated, so disciplined, and so active for God. If Christ is really Lord, you can put down this article, walk to the mirror, look yourself in the eye, and boldly say, “ I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39). Afraid? Of What?
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9
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