April 9, 2025 // Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
Reflect on the Word //
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The first I remember hearing of their story was at church camp as a youth. We sang a song about them, sitting around the campfire in the cool summer air, and as the fire transfixed us, we would almost make out their shapes in our imagination. They were a sort of spiritual superheroes calling us to a wild trust.
They survived a fire so hot that it melted the people who threw them into the flames. But their confidence in the Lord and trust in His eternal plan burned brighter.
"There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter,” they spoke to the king (Daniel 3:16). Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we have no need to defend ourselves when we are doing the will of God, and yet I defend myself constantly. I take offense when no offense is intended, and snap back my retort almost automatically when I feel attacked. These three men were threatened. It wasn’t a threat to their pride or image—it was a threat to their life. With a choice to protect your earthly life or to protect your eternal life, which would you choose? I would love to say that I would respond that there is no need for me to defend myself, but I know that when left to my own devices, I would.
Because that is what I do every day. It is one of my imperfections. And I am fairly certain I am not alone.
We prefer to defend ourselves and our earthly pride rather than growing in humility and accepting the offense or letting go of the insult. Rather than growing in humility and holiness trusting that God has allowed the circumstance for some reason, we retaliate and fight. Oh, what a better path to turn directly to the Lord in these times, with the confidence that He can save us, if we only continue to be obedient to His commands.
Relate to the Lord // Pray for humility today. :)
Le Dr MaryRuth Hackett aime la fiction historique, regarder ses enfants jouer au football, une bonne tasse de café et le calme du petit matin. Elle est titulaire d'un doctorat en psychologie de l'éducation et est l'auteur de Daughter by Design: Discovering Your Identity as God's Beloved Daughter . Elle est l'auteure de All She Had et du livre de prières de dévotion de nos enfants intitulé Rise Up . En savoir plus sur son nouveau livre, son podcast parental populaire et d'autres écrits en ligne ici .
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