"Teens on Fire!"

A Devotional by Eric S. Reamer

Passage: Daniel 3:27

"And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of smoke had passed on them."

Where there's smoke...

You know the phrase... "Where there's smoke... there's fire."  But is it safe to suggest that the opposite is usually true?  Can it be said, "Where there's fire... there's smoke."?  In most cases, the answer would be yes.  But today, let's look at 3 teens that put the law of physics on hold while they experienced their own personal miracle!

Bad King - Good Youth

Here's the scene: This really obnoxious King, whose name was Nebudchadnezzar, (we'll call him, Neb) had built an idol, and commanded everyone under his rule to bow down and worship it.  Most everyone obeyed the decree of the King... not to do so was an invitation to death row!  But then there were these three teens... Jews... who knew very well that to bow down and worship an idol was against everything that their relationship with God would allow, decided to take a stand for what they knew was right.
 
It would be kind of like teens of today deciding to say no to pre-marital sex, or to take a stand against doing drugs, or even cheating in school.  The pressures to do these things is intense today - just as it was for the Jewish teens back then... but in the midst of almost impossible pressure, these kids took a stand.


Well, ol' Neb was NOT a happy camper to see that some of the people under his rule were disobeying his law, and so he had the boys gathered up to account for their behavior.  He even gave them a second chance to change their minds.  But they would have nothing to do with it - they had their principles.  They had drawn a line in the sand, and across it they would not travel.  Regardless of the consequences imposed by the King, they answered to a higher authority!

The King ordered the furnace to be heated up 7 times hotter than it had ever been heated before.  He was going to show these kids a lesson for their obstinance!  And in his fury, he had the boys tied up, and tossed into the fire!

Party Time

Shortly after the teens were thrown into the fire, the guards had to do a double-take!  Not only did they see the boys walking around in the fire (without being tied up)... but they also saw a fourth person - and they said he looked like the Son of God!  Can you imagine the thoughts that went through their heads??  Everything that they knew to be true (like fire being hot, and 3 + 0 should still equal 3) was being shaken to the very core!  The king was also rocked, and told the guys to come out of the fire... and here comes the good part!!

The teens did come out - all 3 of them - and our key verse tells us that the fire had no power over them.  It tells us that their hair was not even singed... and that their clothes were all intact.  And get this - even though those boys went through the fire... the smell of smoke was NOWHERE to be found on them!!

Let's Apply This...

Let's face facts... as a teen, you are going to have to go through the fire from time to time.  If you decide to take a stand for what is right, you will probably go through more than one fire!  But if your stand is for what God has called you to do (or not do, in some cases), then you will come out of the fire - and you will not smell like smoke!  You will be better for it in the long run, and God will be glorified!
The teens in our story went on to be great leaders in the King's country.  God honored their stand by blessing them, and giving them even more responsibility.  Today, I encourage you to follow the example of the Jewish teens in the story, and take a stand for the Lord... and hold firm as you go through the fire!  God will be there with you, and you will emerge unharmed!

Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray that you would help me to stand strong for the things I know would please you.  I also pray for the strength and courage to take a stand against the things that I know would displease you.  And if I have already failed in my efforts to stay pure and true to your Word, I ask for forgiveness as I repent of my sin, and turn toward your way. Amen.


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Eric Reamer is an evangelist, and full time Christian Illusionist. If you enjoy this devotional, please e-mail Eric at: Eric@IllustratedIllusions.com.