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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
This does not happen often, but when it does it is valuable and rewarding. One phrase stood out a few weeks ago – "The Touch of God" – this week’s phrase is "Stand for God".
God feeds us - in various ways - through bread and wine - and as we read His Holy Word - and it was as I was reading further in Daniel that this phrase came to me so clearly - "Stand for God".
Jesus spoke about us being witnesses for him, and sometimes that can be very lonely.
Daniel Chapter 3 - We read of three men who refused to compromise and worship an idol, and of course the whole book of Daniel deals with this man of God, Daniel, who refused to give in, and bow down to an idol.
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, and in his dream he saw a statue and a stone.
Chapter 2verses 31,34 . He makes an image of what he has seen.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are Daniel's three assistants, but we do not read of Daniel. Where is he? When Daniel is gone, will they be able to stand without him? What happens when the teacher goes out of the room?
Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful man – he was the Saddam Hussein of the day. He was top dog - and now he tries to make himself top god. He has built an image 90 feet high, and nine feet wide. It would be seen for miles glinting in the sun.
He sends for all the princes and leaders.
When the band plays - then down you go - you will bow down.
There are times when we have to ask - what is the music doing to us?
We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities – some just read that verse as “we wrestle not”.
There are three still standing. Someone sneaked a peek. They were jealous of the jobs these three got, and they ran and told. They cliped and accused.
How easy it would have been to say - "Well everybody else is bowing down."
Verse 12 . These are the men you appointed!
Verse 16 . They are so brave - our minds are made up - no further discussion - tremendous courage.
Verse 18 . Here is commitment in one sentence.
Verse 19 . The furnace was to be made seven times hotter - normally the furnace would be heated with wood - but now oil and bitumen would be used. How would these three young men feel? How would you have reacted? Remember that around our world today many are being sorely and severely persecuted – simply because they are disciples of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Four were seen. Nebuchadnezzar cannot say more than that - and neither can we. There is someone from heaven in that furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar praised these men - and he praised their God - their God, not mine. He made a decree. He is still in charge - in control - still a despot - a tyrant.
If a million people do the wrong thing - that does not make it right.
“Lord our God – we bow before You, our gracious merciful loving Father – and we bow in the name of Jesus, our Saviour and King. Hear us as we pray for those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ – for men and women and boys and girls who stand for God – whatever they are experiencing this day, we pray for them in the name of Jesus – remembering those who reach out to minister to them in all kinds of various and dangerous ways.”. Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.