Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego

This trio of names (which, for some reason, people often give to pets) is from the Bible. In the book of Daniel, Daniel and three friends are, like many other Jews, living in exile in Babylon, where King Nebuchadnezzar reigns.

The four young men are chosen to serve in the king’s palace, and a court official changes their Hebrew names to Babylonian ones. Daniel’s three companions were renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Dan. 1:7).

According to Daniel 3, the proud Babylonian king set up a gold image of himself and required everyone to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, being faithful Jews, would not bow down to an idol.

The furious king ordered them thrown into a fiery furnace, heated seven times hotter than usual. The three friends were tied up and thrown into the furnace, but God miraculously preserved them from harm.

The Babylonians saw not only the three men walking around in the fire, but also a fourth man, who looked like “the Son of God.” Nebuchadnezzar was so awed that he ordered that no one be allowed to slander the Jews’ God.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Healing Time

J. Stephen Lang

1868: On this date a political leader who grew up poor, had no formal education and was illiterate until his wife taught him to read and write, issued Proclamation 179 “granting full pardon and amnesty for the offense of treason against the United States during the late Civil War.”

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A Personal Promise

Charles Stanley

Jesus came to earth with the view of offering you salvation. He wanted you to have a restored relationship with the Father, a relationship that was so close, so intimate, that you would have your special place in the Father’s house (John 14:1–4).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Unexpected Savior

John MacArthur

Scripture records that when John the Baptist began his ministry, “The people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not” (Luke 3:15).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Reflections on the Incarnation and Freedom of God

Philip Yancey

Think of the condescension involved: the incarnation, which sliced history into two parts had more animal than human witnesses. Think, too, of the risk. In the incarnation, God spanned the vast chasm of fear that had distanced him from his human creation.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Blessing of the Presence of Jesus

Charles Spurgeon

He is as certainly with us now as He was with the disciples at the lake when they saw coals of fire, fish on the coals, and bread (John 21:9). Not physically, but still in real truth, Jesus is with us!