If you know me, you know that I was raised as a Christian.  I went to Sunday school and church every Sunday.  In fact, we were there in the proverbial sense, “every time the doors were open”.  All in my family had strong faith.  I loved our little church in our hometown.  What beautiful memories I have there.  In fact, I was married there.

I must admit that in college and when we first married we didn’t go to church.  We were too busy and certainly didn’t want to get up early on Sunday morning.  That can sometimes happen to young people when their parents are not there.

When I think of the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego I am ashamed.  They were three young boys who had been taken from their families and sent into exile in Babylon and yet they kept their strong faith. When they refused to bow down to the statue the king had erected, they were to be punished by being thrown into the furnace.  Yet, in Daniel 3: 17-18 we read:

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

We all need to have that kind of strong faith.  We must know that no matter what the Lord is with us and will guide and protect us.  He promises to never leave us or forsake us.

I pray my faith is that strong.  I also pray that I am never tested to that point.  I pray we can all be so firm in the Lord that no matter what we will never forsake Him