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• faith

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were men of faith. They demonstrated the type of faith we described yesterday—a faith in God himself, not just a faith in what God can do.

When faced with the fiery furnace, they did not doubt God’s ability to rescue them. However, their faith in his infinite wisdom, and their trust in his plan were greater than their hope for physical redemption.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

Does your faith continue no matter what God’s answer to your prayers?

• faith

Is my faith in God or what I believe God will do?

Sometimes my faith is only a result of my hope that God can and will accomplish great things. That is only a belief in what he does or is capable of, not a trust in who he is.

What is the difference?

Faith doesn’t just believe that he can heal the sick; it trusts that he can work through the illness or the healing.

Faith isn’t focused on the here and now, but trusts that God sees the big picture.

I invite you to put your faith in God himself, not just in what he can do. Take a moment to reflect on the difference, especially in light of these verses from Hebrews 11.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.