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Scripture Text: Daniel 3:19 N’vukhadnetzar became so utterly enraged that his face was distorted with anger against Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go. He ordered the furnace made seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men in his army to tie up Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go and throw them into the blazing hot furnace. 21 So these men were tied up in their cloaks, tunics, robes and other clothes, and thrown into the blazing hot furnace. 22 The king’s order was so urgent and the furnace so overheated that the men carrying Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go were burned to death by the flames. 23 These three men, Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go, fell, bound, into the blazing hot furnace.
24 Suddenly N’vukhadnetzar sprang to his feet. Alarmed, he asked his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the flames?” They answered the king, “Yes, of course, your majesty.” 25 But he exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied up, walking around there in the flames, unhurt; and the fourth looks like one of the gods!”
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Daniel 3:19-25
Verse 20
[20] And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
To bind — What did he think these three men would have refused? Or that their God would defend them from his power, or that if he had, his mighty men could have prevailed? None of all this was the case; for God purposed to shew his power when the king did his worst, and in the thing wherein he dealt proudly, to be above him.
Verse 23
[23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Fell down — All this is exprest with emphasis, to make the power of God more glorious in their preservation; for that shame that slew the executioners, might much more easily have killed them, even before they fell down.
Verse 25
[25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
No hurt — See how the God of nature can when he pleases control the powers of nature! The Son of God - Probably he had heard David speak of him. Jesus Christ, the Angel of the covenant, did sometimes appear before his incarnation. Those who suffer for Christ, have his gracious presence with them in their sufferings, even in the fiery furnace, even in the valley of the shadow of death, and therefore need fear no evil.
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Scripture Text: Romans 12:1 I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. 2 In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed..
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary: Romans 12:1-2
Verse 1
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
I exhort you — St. Paul uses to suit his exhortations to the doctrines he has been delivering. So here the general use from the whole is contained in the first and second verses. The particular uses follow, from the third verse to the end of the Epistle.
By the tender mercies of God — The whole sentiment is derived from Rom. i.-v. The expression itself is particularly opposed to "the wrath of God," Romans 1:18. It has a reference here to the entire gospel, to the whole economy of grace or mercy, delivering us from "the wrath of God," and exciting us to all duty.
To present — So Romans 6:13; 16:19; now actually to exhibit before God.
Your bodies — That is, yourselves; a part is put for the whole; the rather, as in the ancient sacrifices of beasts, the body was the whole. These also are particularly named in opposition to that vile abuse of their bodies mentioned, Romans 1:24. Several expressions follow, which have likewise a direct reference to other expressions in the same chapter.
A sacrifice — Dead to sin and living - By that life which is mentioned, Romans 1:17; 6:4, etc.
Holy — Such as the holy law requires, Romans 7:12.
Acceptable — Romans 8:8.
Which is your reasonable service — The worship of the heathens was utterly unreasonable, Romans 1:18, etc.; so was the glorying of the Jews, Romans 2:3, etc. But a Christian acts in all things by the highest reason, from the mercy of God inferring his own duty.
Verse 2
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
And be not conformed — Neither in judgment, spirit, nor behaviour.
To this world — Which, neglecting the will of God, entirely follows its own.
That ye may prove — Know by sure trial; which is easily done by him who has thus presented himself to God.
What is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God — The will of God is here to be understood of all the preceptive part of Christianity, which is in itself so excellently good, so acceptable to God, and so perfective of our natures.
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The Daily Devotional for Sunday, 22 October 2017
Sermon Theme: "Coin Toss"
Text to read: Daniel 3:19-25
- Pray for all those who are courageous in the midst of pressure or persecution.
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The Daily Devotional for Saturday, 21 October 2017
Sermon Theme: "Coin Toss"
Text to read: Romans 12:1-2
- Read Romans 12:1 I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. 2 In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed..
- What message do you hear about conformity?
The Daily Devotional for Friday, 20 October 2017
Sermon Theme: "Coin Toss"
Text to read: Daniel 3:19-25
- In what ways is our culture today, a culture of conformity?
- How have you been conformed?
The Daily Devotional for Thursday, 19 October 2017
Sermon Theme: "Coin Toss"
Text to read: Daniel 3:19-25
- When is disappointing people the right thing to do?
- What pressures exist against it?
The Daily Devotional for Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Sermon Theme: "Coin Toss"
Text to read: Daniel 3:19-25
- In reading the story as an adult, what meaning do you see now?
The Daily Devotional for Tuesday, 17 October 2017
Sermon Theme: "Coin Toss"
Text to read: Daniel 3:19-25
- If you are reading this story as a child, what is the main “takeaway”?
The Daily Devotional for Monday, 16 October 2017Sermon Theme: "Coin Toss"
Text to read: Daniel 3:19-25
- What is your earliest memory of this story from Daniel 3?
First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, California 92108, United States
(619) 297-4366
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