Finding the Light in FearSampel

DAY 1

NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Welcome to this week’s Three Minutes a Day study on fear. It is easy to be overcome by fear, but it is not so easy to overcome fear yourself. I pray for you this week that through our Scripture study, you will find your ability to conquer the fear that holds you captive.

The definition of fear is a negative emotion caused by a belief that someone or something is dangerous.

This week, we are studying the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Before we dig into our Scripture today, I want us to understand the back story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

At the beginning of Daniel, in chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar had made an image of gold and required every person under his rule to worship this image.

However, three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to worship this image. These men were the king’s officials in Babylon, but they were also God-honoring men. Scripture does not mention these three men made a big scene as they refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image, but that they paid no attention to the king or his image (Daniel 3:12).

Unfortunately for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, death was the penalty for going against the king’s command for worship. Therefore, when King Nebuchadnezzar found out these men were not following his command, he sent for them and demanded they worship his image. If they chose not to, they would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace (Daniel 3:15).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had every right to fear King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had the power to put these men through a gruesome death.

Is there something you fear today? Perhaps there is a long-held fear that has kept you captive. I invite you to come back tomorrow as we explore more of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story.

For now, I leave you with this: when fear overcomes you, what is your response?

I’ll see you back here tomorrow as we study the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

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