Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts

Daniel 3:17, "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king."

This morning, there are large misconceptions about the power of the Almighty. Many do not doubt His power until they get into a time of distress. Then, they begin to wonder whether He is able to deliver them. May we never think about whether He is able or not. Our Lord is ALWAYS able to deliver. His arm is not shortened, and there is no power in heaven, earth, or under the earth that can stay that power or thwart
His purpose or desire. Our Lord is not always willing to do something, and it should be our desire to seek to make our will in harmony with His. However, His power lacks not the slightest in ability.

Here, the three Hebrew children (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) are responding to Nebuchadnezzar's threat to bow down or be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. These three give about the best response on the ability and will of God as any other (which makes this verse one of my favourites). They freely admit that the Lord is able to deliver them. They make it clear to the king that their King is not lacking in that regard. However, they are not sure if it is His will to do so. It was the Lord's will to allow the devil to destroy Job's possessions, children, and health. However, the Lord also has the will to spare His children from time to time like Daniel from the den of lions.

These men freely admit that they are not sure of the will of the Lord in this regard. However, their ignorance of the Lord's will does not change their course of action. Should they know that the Lord would allow their natural lives to be consumed in the fire, it would not change the fact that they are still going to refrain from idolatry and wickedness. It should be our course as well (from this example) to follow after righteousness whether we are tortured for it or not.

However, in either case, they are going to be delivered. Notice their language. They are not sure whether the Lord is going to deliver them from the fire or not, but they are sure that He is going to deliver them from the king's hand. Either outcome is a deliverance. Whether their lives are spared or destroyed, they are delivered by God. Should it please the Lord to deliver them from the fire, the Lord has delivered and overturned the decree of the king. Should the Lord not do so, they are delivered from this vale of tears into that glorious region where all is peace and love.

The Psalmist declares that the death of the Lord's saints is precious in His sight. (Psalm 116:15) It is a precious thing to the Lord when His children are called home. Either way, they were going to be fine. Whatever our lot in life, we are going to be fine. Many times, I am at a funeral trying to console a person who has lost a loved one. Perhaps the best consolation they can receive is for one to say, "They have been delivered and are beholding the Lord's face in righteousness." If we have loved ones die from cancer, etc, our prayers for their deliverance have been answered. Either way, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. To live is Christ, but to die is gain. May we ever seek to see the deliverance of our Lord in our lives and eventually in death.

In Hope,

Bro Philip