Title

No Faith, No Miracle

Scripture
But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.
(Daniel 3:18)
Devotional
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego I am sure had hope that God would deliver them. Nevertheless, they were willing to give their lives if He did not. Think about their situation. It is easy to be brave after the fact, but these three young men had to function by the same faith that is available to you and me.
Because we know the end of the story, we assume that these three were exceptionally gifted with great faith. They were not; they just stood on the faith they had, willing to take the consequences of that faith. They simply, by faith, would not compromise their integrity and their trust in God.
The power of this story is not so much that God delivered them from the fiery furnace, but that three slaves held on to their faith and were thrown into that furnace. If there is no faith, then there will be no miracle. The faith always comes first.
Text For The Day
Daniel 3:18: “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
 
Thought For The Day
“God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly and blunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling of an eye.”  C.S. Lewis, Studies in Theology.
 
Questions To Ponder
Morning Study Guide
Defining:  “Miracle”: That which cannot be received outside the realm of faith. Miracles are supernatural interventions that transcend nature, because they are natural to God.
 
Referencing: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23
 
Applying: Do you need a miracle in your life, you may wish to pray like the father with the demon possessed boy, “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:18