Notes by La'Rue

When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were thrown into the fiery furnace, they never allowed fear to settle in. One, because of their faith in God. Two, because they knew what was beyond the flames. Before we discuss life outside the furnace, let’s talk about why so many people are in it. We can either walk in, because of our own wrongdoing, or we can be thrown in, all because our beliefs, morals or values don’t align with that of another.

In Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s case, they were wrongfully thrown into the fiery furnace, because they refused to worship and acknowledge King Nebuchadnezzar as their “god”. In this case, they stayed in line with their beliefs and denounced anything that wasn’t of their God. Angry with their “disobedience”, King N decided to punish them, by putting them in the furnace, while hoping and knowing, they’d be dead.

However, he couldn’t harm or kill anything that was meant to live! You see, there was life outside the furnace for all three men, so there was no way God was going to allow them to die! Ultimately, a lot of us “die”, because we allow people to “kill” us off. We are confident and know who we are, but then we foolishly allow doubt and fear (King N) to creep in. Suddenly, we ferociously fan the flames, in attempts to put out the fire. But, how can you put out something you are partly responsible for?

We were not created to be confined or restrained to someone else’s ideologies of us. We owe it to ourselves to walk in our purpose, and live life outside the parameters of what someone has tried to hold us to. Anything besides this, is what I view as mental slavery. We’re too afraid (fear) to think and act for ourselves, so we relinquish the power to someone else. Rather than stand up for who and what we believe, we stay in the furnace, because the risk of speaking up is far greater than being burned.

No matter what the situation is, always choose to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. Had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego not stood up for themselves, they too would’ve been enslaved to King N’s ideas and practices. However, you were created for a purpose and with a purpose! Continue to speak up for yourself! You may get burned a few times, but you’ll never become engulfed by the flames. Understand and realize, there is “life beyond the furnace”.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue