God and His Blessings

Daniel 3:19 - 23

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ²³ and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.


Sadly, sometimes our anger gets the better of us.  We hear everyday of some violent act between people and the results and consequences of it. We hear of dictators and kings of countries giving orders for genocide and unspeakable acts against women.  King Nebuchadnezzar was no different.  Daniel's three young friends were taking a stand against the idol and him and the king got mad.  Really mad.  He didn't care about anything except showing his power against those who went against them.  As a result, the soldiers that took Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to their punishment were killed by the hot furnace.  
A fiery death has to be one of the worst types of death for medical examiners to deal with.  Trying to find evidence of who the victim is, how they were burned, makes it difficult.  Not to mention the memory that they will forever have from their senses, seeing, smelling, hearing.  Yeah, I know, it's graphic.  


But God had other plans for these men.  They weren't lucky, like some would think.  They were blessed.  This week, look at your life.  Each of us is blessed. No one will ever take that away from you.  Only you can decided if something is a blessing or not.  So look around.  What are you most thankful for this week?  Focus on that.  Stay positive.  Even if it looks impossible and bleak, it probably isn't.  You just have to make it to the other side.  Keep your eyes there.  Keep your eyes on God and his blessings.