In Daniel 3, we read the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s encounter with a fiery furnace. Their names had been changed. Their Hebrew names were Hananiah which means “the Lord shows Grace,” Mishael means “Who is like God?” and Azariah means “The Lord helps!” It’s interesting that Nebuchadnezzar perverted the meaning of their names in ways that try to honor the gods of Babylon. But time would tell that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were truly dedicated to the one and only God, Yahweh! Their dedication became obvious to those watching because of how they functioned and why they did it. As their peers noticed that they didn’t bow down to the elevated things in the Babylonian kingdom, those three brave servants of the God of heaven had an opportunity to give everything up for the loyalty they had to God.
Their example serves as a motivation for many people today that ‘going against the grain’ isn’t easy, but it is very noticeable. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:16 to “let your light shine in such a way that people may see your good deeds as you do them, and glorify God in heaven.”
Going against the grain doesn’t come naturally, but Jesus came to show us what it looks like in everyday kinds of ways. He told His disciples at the Last Supper after He washed their feet, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…” (John 13:14-15) He also said prior to that in Luke 9:23-25, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood that gaining acceptance or popularity, or simply avoiding problems by fitting in with the world instead of standing with God would profit them nothing. John wrote in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
It’s easy to go with the flow, but those who will receive the crown of life are those who are “faithful unto death,” (Revelations 2:10). Peter said in 1 Peter 2:20-21, “But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” Jesus truly went against the grain to be consistent in blessing people; what an amazing example to follow in our lives starting today!
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