Tested by Fire

"Our concept of God in crisis situations will determine our committment...If we can begin to see God as one who expects us to do right regardless of the consequences, we won't waver; God many times *will* bring healing and deliverance and power and anointing to our lives, but that's just the icing on the cake. Our concept of God makes a great difference.

"What resulted from the commitment of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-nego?

'Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath...He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded some valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. For this reason, because the king's command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. But these three men, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. (Dan. 3:19-23)'

"The first result of our commitment is that we will be tried.
Bank on it: when we stand up for God, we will be tested.

"The second result of our commitment is that God will be glorified.

"Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace and asked, 'Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?' For he saw in the furnace four men 'loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!'...Their hair wasn't singed, their trousers weren't damaged, and they didn't even smell like fire...Nebuchadnezzar said, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent his angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him..."

Source: John C. Maxwell-"Be All You Can Be!"