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  • Resurrection: Celebrating Easter Every Day

    Resurrection: Celebrating Easter Every Day

    As with almost every holiday we celebrate, there is a build-up of anticipation. Eventually, the holiday arrives – and the day after, we move on with life, focused on the next big thing.

    Easter is no exception.

    Here’s the problem with that… When we celebrate Easter, we are celebrating the greatest sacrifice ever made. Throughout the day and the week prior, we’re focused on how that sacrifice impacts our eternal life. We set our eyes on a father who sacrificed his son – and a son who sacrificed his life – all to save us from our sins.

    That sacrifice is the reason we no longer have to fear death… And it’s something that we should be thinking about every day.

    Every day. Not just on Easter or the week before, but every day.

    Yes, Easter Sunday has come and gone. We spent time worshiping at our churches. We reflected for a day on that sacrifice that Jesus made. Families sat down and shared meals. Then, the dishes were put away, and the Easter decorations were put back into storage.

    Our call for each of you today is simple. Don’t put the resurrection, or the sacrifice Christ made for us and our families, in storage. Keep it front and center. Reflect on it daily. Remember why this one day each year matters so much, and celebrate Easter every day.

    Here’s one verse we can all keep coming back to.

    “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16, NIV

    Reflect on this every morning. Start your quiet time with it. Change the beginning to read, “For God so loved YOU…” When we do this, we are creating space in our lives for Easter and the resurrection to maintain their place and importance among all the other distractions and busyness that the world will throw at us.

    Brothers, don’t put the resurrection in storage. Share it with your wives and your children and your family and friends. Talk about it with your coworkers. Let the people in your circle know what it means to you and what it means to them as well.

    Be a man who shares Jesus and what He’s done for you.

    Celebrate Easter every day.

    CBMC Webmaster

  • Who Are You Battling Alongside?

    Who Are You Battling Alongside?

    “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

    -Ephesians 6:11

    I’ve written about this topic extensively in the book WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men. Christian men today are in an active battle and fall into three groups. The first group has no idea they’re even in a battle. The next group understands that they’re in a battle but haven’t been trained to fight, so they’re taking casualties personally and within their families. The final group sees the battle and is actively fighting back.

    This battle for Christian men’s hearts is real. Their faith is being attacked. Their masculinity is being attacked. Their marriages are being attacked. Their children are being attacked. Their purpose is being attacked. Their identity is being attacked. Their confidence is being attacked. Attacks are being waged from every side.

    It’s a reality I see in the lives of men every day. It’s also a truth that I have lived personally, experiencing each of those stages above in my own life. I’ve been the man who had no idea he was in a battle. I’ve experienced the moment when I could see the battle clearly for the first time but had no idea how to protect myself or my family. And today, I’m a man fighting for my faith, my marriage, my children, my masculinity, my purpose, my confidence, and my identity.

    What do these battles look like? Every week, I hear new stories.

    “Porn is destroying me. I’ve been battling it since I was fourteen, and now I’m thirty-six.”

    “The drinking isn’t really an issue. It’s more social than anything. I just wish I could control it.”

    “I’m just trying to keep up. If I work a little more and a little harder, I’ll get what I want and be happy. It will finally be enough.”

    “My wife wants a divorce. I never thought I’d lose my kids full-time.”

    “It finally caught up with me. I lost my job and my girlfriend.”

    Men are at war, and unfortunately, most have no idea. They’re either oblivious to the war being waged all around them, or they feel stuck in it with no weapons. Because they’re unaware and unequipped, they’re not fighting back. And, because they’re not fighting back, they’re getting destroyed.

    You can see it in their eyes. Look around the next time you walk through the grocery store, the gym, or even your church. You’ll meet men who have a glaze in their eyes, that distant stare. When you look for it, you can see it a mile away. They’re yearning for something more in their lives, but the battle is breaking them down.

    At work, they’re looking for meaning and purpose but not finding it. They’re struggling to measure up and endure the pressure, but it’s getting to them. Every day, they’re being asked to do more with less and to carry heavier loads. “Keep going, son, and it will pay off someday.”

    At home, the battle is just as hard. Some are trying to lead in their homes, and others are showing up passively with no energy or intention. Relationships with the women they love are strained. Husbands are struggling to be there for their wives the way they know they should, and for men raising kids, they’re desperately trying to navigate their role as a dad.

    To deal with this, men find ways to cope. Some turn to alcohol, drugs, porn, and gambling to deal with life. For others, chasing money, success, and material gain is their addiction. On the battlefield of our lives, these are some of our greatest enemies.

    Becoming aware of the battle you’re in is the first step to winning that battle. What’s the key to winning? Jesus… and other Christian men. First, you need to invite Jesus onto the battlefield with you. Humble yourself and ask Him to join your fight for the things that matter in your life. Then, invite other Christian men to fight alongside you. Stop trying to do this alone.

    Too often, Christian guys step onto life’s battlefields alone with no one fighting alongside them. When we’re alone, it makes us an easy target. Standing with Jesus and other Christian men, we change the odds and stack them in our favor.

    Take that first step today. Invite Jesus into your battles. Then, surround yourself with other Christian men who are ready to fight with you and for you.

    Looking for that group of Christian men who will step into the battle with you? One of the places where I have found that is in my CBMC relationships, specifically my Trusted Advisor Forum. If this is something you’re looking for, I suggest you explore all of the CBMC offerings and find a group of solid Christian men to step into your battles with you.

    CBMC Webmaster

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  • Our Call to Encourage One Another

    Our Call to Encourage One Another

    “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.”

    -Romans 1:11-13

    These verses from Paul to the Romans contain something very powerful. In this passage, Paul is sharing this deep desire to visit Rome. More specifically, he expresses something we should all remember as we walk through our faith journeys. These are powerful words…

    “That you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

    Having spent a decade surrounded by other men in Bible studies, I can say with certainty that these words are true. We are called to be encouragers to one another. We are called to lift one another up, and to allow others to lift us up when we need it.

    A pastor shared this from the front of the church years ago. “You’re either in a storm, you’re coming out of one, or one is coming.” I’ve walked through all of those seasons in my life, and I would bet with confidence that you have as well.

    Do we need encouragement in our lives? Absolutely! As a husband, the dad of two teenagers who are about to leave for college, a business owner, and a leader, let me be as transparent as possible. I need all of the encouragement that I can get! And, across all of those men I’ve shared studies and built relationships with, so did they.

    Every man needs other individuals in his circle to encourage him from time to time. No matter how strong or in control we may act, we will face those moments where we get tired, feel overwhelmed, and face unexpected challenges. There will be mornings when we wake up from a long night to face a long day, and we’ll need some encouragement.

    There will also be days when our tank is full, and we become the encourager. Some days, it’s our cup that needs to be filled, and other days, we can fill someone else’s cup. In those moments where we find ourselves equipped to be the encourager, God’s call on our lives is simple. Look for those around you who need that. Seek out the brother who is:

    • Struggling in their marriage
    • Trying to love a child who is disconnected
    • Mourning a lost job
    • Fighting an addiction
    • Stressed out at work

    Be the one who shows up for them, and live out this verse. “That you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Live out that calling, lift one another up, and make this part of being the man God called you to be.

    John Gamades

    Author, WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

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  • Who Will Protect You on Your 2024 Journeys?

    Who Will Protect You on Your 2024 Journeys?

    We’re in a time of year when the concept of journeys is top-of-mind. Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem. Many of us journeyed and traveled over the holidays. Stepping out of 2023 and into 2024 is its own journey, and this new year will be filled with all kinds of journeys for each of us. Some of these will be expected, and others unexpected.

    With that in mind, Ezra has some good reminders for all the journeys life brings our way. His writing records two separate time periods following the seventy years of captivity. Ezra 1-6 speaks to the first return of the Jews, a period of 23 years that ends with the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Chapters 7-10 share the story of Ezra leading a second group of exiles to Israel sixty years later, and in Chapter 8, we get a glimpse into their preparation for this journey.

    “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”

    -Ezra 8:21-23

    What does Ezra teach us through his writing?

    Begin with Humility: Ezra steps into this journey with a humble spirit. Instead of taking these next steps alone, he asks God for a safe passage. As well, Ezra and the people fast before the Lord, signaling their need for direction and protection. To be clear, he could have asked the king for protection on the road, but instead, Ezra brings this request to God.

    Rely on God, Not the World: To be clear, Ezra could have asked the king for protection on the road, but instead, he leans into his faith. He does this for two reasons. First, Ezra wants to protect the reputation of God before the king, as he had already proclaimed that the hand of God is on everyone who looks to him. Second, Ezra trusts God and is confident in the Lord’s ability to provide and protect.

    Move with Confidence: In the final words of this set of verses, Ezra wraps up this section with four powerful words, “He answered our prayer.” God responded! The simple reminder here is that when we humble ourselves and pray, we can be confident that God hears us and acts on our behalf. This doesn’t mean he always answers our prayers the way we expect or want, but Ezra’s example points to the fact that God is eager and waiting for us to humble ourselves and bring our needs to him.

    As we shared above, the new year will come with many journeys, some expected, and others unexpected. Just like Ezra, our protection doesn’t come from kings or soldiers or horsemen but from God alone. Remember this as you step into 2024 and all the new year’s journeys.

    – John Gamades

    CBMC Webmaster

  • Slowing Down to Greet Our Savior

    Slowing Down to Greet Our Savior

    It’s that time of year. On the one hand, we’re focused on the season’s school concerts, holiday shopping, the parties and festivities that come in December, and time with friends and family. At the same time, we’re focused on ending the year strong in our businesses, a last push to hit our numbers for the quarter, pleasing customers, and leading our teams.

    Reading that paragraph above, your blood pressure may have risen slightly. You may have also noticed that “Christmas” wasn’t used once.

    If culture had its way, that’s where we’d leave it. December would come and go, and we’d leave Christ out completely while we frantically dash through December to get to January. Even without culture’s influence, it’s easy to let Christmas come and go without slowing down to greet our Savior…

    That’s my encouragement to you today. Slow down.

    If you’re anything like me, December 26th arrives, and Christmas lets me down. The parties are done. The presents are done. The festivities are done, and all the people have left. Why am I let down? The answer is simple. I’ve spent a month focused on all the stuff, but not the Savior.

    My mom used to have a sign she’d put up each year. “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” This catchy little holiday rhyme unimpressed the younger, less mature version of myself. Over time, though, I’ve come back to this, and I realize it is true. Jesus really is the reason. I need to slow down and make time to let him into Christmas, but how?

    Here are three ways to greet your Savior…

    1. Schedule time to get quiet and get into the Word each day. The Gospel of Luke shares with us the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. As you’re slowing down to greet your Savior, spend some time getting to know him.
    2. Be present where your feet are. Part of slowing down is being present. Whether you’re at the choir concert, church, work, or at a party with family, resist the urge to drift back into the busyness of the season. Be grateful for the moments and keep your Savior present in them.
    3. Be grateful that Jesus came. Let the reality of that set in. Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem as a baby, the door has been opened for you to spend eternity in Heaven. No baby, no Savior, no open door.

    To each of you reading this right now, Merry Christmas.

    My prayer for you is that the arrival of our Savior will fill your heart and that each of you will make and take time to think about why His coming means so much to you.

    –       John Gamades

    CBMC Webmaster

  • Looping in the Lord

    Looping in the Lord

    During a recent Friday morning study with some guys, we landed on the topic of our quiet times. As one of my friends shared, “I do my quiet time when I wake up, say “Good morning” to God, and then I go my own way and spend the rest of my day disconnected from Him.”

    It was an honest and transparent description of the relationship many of us have with the Lord.
    We wake up, spend some time in the Word and prayer, and then go on with our day. Often, we move quickly from this time of intimate connection into days spent on auto-pilot, trying to check all the boxes and hold everything together until we crash for the night so we can do it all over again tomorrow. In this race to the end of the day, we never loop back and reconnect with God. Instead, we try to do it all on our own.

    Today, that’s the concept we want to share: Looping.

    What if, instead of talking to God once in the morning, we spent our day looping Him back in? Walking into a challenging 10:00 meeting, we loop God back in and ask Him for guidance. Sitting down to lunch, we loop God in and thank Him for our food and the people we’re sharing the meal with. Working on a project in the afternoon, we loop God back in again and ask him for the clarity and energy to do our work well. Driving home through traffic at the end of the day, we loop God in, asking Him for patience and thanking Him for the family we’re about to rejoin over dinner.

    The point of looping is simple. Rather than one conversation with God that we think will sustain us for an entire day, we loop him in and out of our day, bringing him into each situation. We create ongoing conversations with God that last instead of one quick check-in that fades.

    Here’s the crazy part. God wants you to loop Him into your day. He wants to stand alongside you in the challenges, the wins and the losses, and throughout all the moments your day brings.

    “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

    -Psalm 1:1-2 NIV

    “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

    -1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

    To be clear, there are times in our lives when looping God in is easier than others. When big challenges arise, the kind we can’t handle on our own, we are more prone to looping God in.

    Often, though, our days come with distractions and challenges that try to draw our attention away from this most important relationship in our lives. We will be tempted to try and handle our challenges on our own and to leave God where we left Him, in that early morning quiet time. Remembering to loop God back in is not always easy – but when we do loop Him back in, the amount of peace, joy, and contentment we receive will quickly remind us of His power in our lives.

    Even as you’re reading this right now, loop Him back in.

    Ask God right now to point your heart back toward Him, and in those moments today where you need Him, ask God to remind you to loop Him in. Loop God into your challenges, into the moments where you feel gratitude, and into those areas of your life where His presence will meet needs you cannot meet on your own.

    Include Him in your day beyond your morning quiet time, prayers, and devotions.

    He’s waiting for you. Loop Him in.

    CBMC Webmaster

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  • Love God Not the World

    Love God Not the World

    I recently led a devotional time for a group based on a chapter from the book Choosing a Life That Matters by Dennis Rainey. Specifically, I was sharing the book’s third chapter, which focuses on loving God, not the world.

    In this chapter, Rainey addresses the idea that God and the world are competing for our affection… and one is winning. How do we know which one it is? We look for the evidence. Rainey helps us think about this by providing a list of things we do if we love someone.

    If we love a person, we like to think about them.

    If we love a person, we like to hear about them.

    If we love a person, we like to hear from them and read what they have to say.

    If we love a person, we like to please them.

    If we love a person, we like their friends.

    If we love a person, we are jealous about their name and honor.

    If we love a person, we like to talk to them.

    If we love a person, we like to be with them.

    As I read this list, I immediately began thinking about my wife, whom I love dearly. One by one, I asked myself the questions. Do I like to think about her? Do I like to hear from her and listen to what she has to say? Do I like to please her? Do I like to talk to her and spend time with her?

    That was the easy part, and I ended up pretty content with my answers.

    Next, I applied those same questions to my relationship with God. Do I like to think about Him? Do I like to hear from Him and listen to what He has to say? Do I like to please Him? Do I like to talk to Him and spend time with Him?

    Answering these questions about how I love the Lord was more challenging… and convicting. I want to answer yes to all of them, but like many reading this right now, I am also getting pulled in another direction by culture. This is where Rainey hits the nail on the head. The world and God are competing for my affection. I get to choose which one I am going to love.

    Rainey cites Matthew 22:37-38 in this chapter. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

    If we believe those words that Jesus gave us, and we lean into them in our lives, then we know where our love needs to be focused. Above all else, we’re commanded to love the Lord with everything we have.

    Today, that’s the challenge we all share. As we’re getting pulled away from our first love by our work, possessions, and desires for pleasure and power, we need to surrender those things. Rainey also reminds us that we also need to surrender some things that seem good and pure. We’re called to surrender our marriages, our children, and our time to the Lord as well, putting God first above all else.

    Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. Start there. Think about Him. Listen to what He has to say. Please Him. Talk to Him and spend time with Him. Resist the world’s distractions, and surrender everything to the Lord, putting him first. Then, let God handle the rest.

    CBMC Webmaster

  • The One Leadership Book You Need Above All Others

    The One Leadership Book You Need Above All Others

    Culture is full of resources on leadership. Spend any time in Barnes and Noble or searching books on Amazon, and there is a massive amount of writing on the topic. Everyone has their take on where leadership begins, what leadership looks like, and even when leaders should eat. (Simon Sinek reminds us that leaders should eat last.)

    As Christian leaders, what book should we pull off the shelf to guide our leadership? Other options may come with some gold nuggets, but the one book that should guide how we lead above all others is our Bible. With that in mind, here is a word from Paul in the book of Titus on what leadership looks like.

    “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

    – Titus 1:6-9 NIV

    As Paul is writing this to Titus, he is guiding Titus in what he should be looking for in the leaders he appoints. Reading the above passage, Paul outlines what a man of character looks like, creating a checklist that Titus can use to guide his appointment of elders. He is to find men who fit this description, not perfectly, but who can be trained to excel in all of these areas.

    You and I, as leaders, should be open to training in all of these areas as well. Leaders do not aim for perfection, but an openness to growing in these areas is essential. As leaders being trained by God, we should be looking to grow in self-control, hospitality, discipline, and holiness. We should be striving everyday to hold firm to the words of scripture while encouraging those in our circles to do the same, especially our wives and children. 

    At the same time, we should resist being overbearing or quick-tempered. We should also fight against drunkenness, violence, and winning by cheating or bending the rules. Again, discipline and self-control should guide us, even when our emotions and chaos try to get the best of us.

    Becoming a man of character is a daily battle. Every day, we encounter challenges that test our commitment to developing this kind of Biblical leadership. There will be pressure in our marriages, raising our children and in our relationships with them, and in our work and professional lives. Becoming the kind of leader Paul describes to Titus is not easy… but it is worth it.

    Today, look at that list and do a quick assessment. Where are you winning today and leading the way God guides us, and where could you use a little work? What areas do you see that need some attention in your life? Defining where you need some training is the first step in becoming a man of character and a leader worth following. Answer those questions, and then start strengthening yourself to become the leader God designed you to be.

    -John Gamades, Author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

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  • What's God Telling You To Do?

    What's God Telling You To Do?

    What’s God Telling You To Do?

    Often in life, we find ourselves asking God what He wants from us. What do you want me to do? How should I react in this situation? Where should I set down this fear and anxiety?

    Life would be easier if there were billboards along the side of the road with personalized messages for us, answering all of these questions. The bad news is that’s not how our walk with God works. The good news is that God has other ways of communicating with us, one of the primary ways being His word.

    An example of this comes from the first few verses of Psalm 37, which I’ve repeatedly returned to over the last six months. There may not be a billboard, but we see that God has given us some powerful instructions on how to live and what He wants from us…

    “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;”

    – Psalm 37:1

     

    “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

    – Psalm 37:3

     

    “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

    – Psalm 37:4

     

    “Commit your way to the Lord;”

    – Psalm 37:5

     

    “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;”

    – Psalm 37:7

    All of these verses point back to one theme: Confidence.

    As a business owner, a husband, a dad, a son, and as a man, I spent the first two-thirds of my life chasing confidence in many areas of my life. I wanted to feel like I was enough as a husband and a father. I wanted to feel like I belonged in the conversations I was having at work. I wanted to feel like I measured up as a leader. I wanted to feel like I was making the grade and keeping up in the world’s eyes.

    Over and over again, chasing confidence led me to chasing the wrong things—success, money, respect, titles, accolades, and attaboys. I wanted to be seen, valued, and in some cases, to be put on a pedestal. Over time, the chasing became exhausting.

    Then, I came to realize that my confidence comes from one place and one place only – from God. His message for us at the beginning of Psalm 37 is clear. Find your confidence in Me.

    Do not fret before Me.

    Trust Me.

    Delight in Me.

    Commit your ways to Me.

    Be still before Me.

    Wait patiently on Me.

    Find your confidence in Me.

    As men, the world attempts to eat away at our confidence every day. Sometimes it chips away at us aggressively, and other times, the wearing away comes in the form of ocean saltwater that crashes against our shores and erodes our coastlines over years and decades. We battle that voice on our shoulder that tells us we’re not enough, we’re not keeping up, and that we should keep chasing what the world has for us – that what the world offers will build us up and make us confident.

    It won’t.

    Instead, we lean into our Father. As sons of God, we approach Him expectantly. We trust Him, delight in Him, and commit our ways to Him. We make time to get still, and we practice patience. And we know that He has everything we need.

    If you’re anything like me, you need other men around you to remind you of these truths from time to time. When life’s challenges show up at work and home, we can find ourselves questioning God and if He is who He says He is. In those moments, the counsel of other believing men can be what points us back to truths like Psalm 37. Sometimes, when we’re tempted to chase our confidence, we need another man to remind us who we are and who we serve. It’s in those moments that iron truly does sharpen iron.

    Today, ask yourself, “Where does my confidence come from?” Spend some time with that. Wrestle with the tough questions, and ask God to show you how He wants you to show up, living life His way.

    CBMC Webmaster

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  • Embracing Life in the Fire

    Embracing Life in the Fire

    In Daniel 3, we hear the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar had created an image of gold and instructed the people to fall down and worship it with this warning… Those who did not worship the idol would be thrown into a blazing furnace.

    In Daniel 1, we learned that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not followers. Along with Daniel, they had taken a stand and, unknown to King Nebuchadnezzar, they had refused to eat the choice food and wine from his table. Fast-forward to the king’s new golden idol, and these men would stand again. This time their stand would be visible and obvious to the king.

    In Daniel 3:12, the astrologers expose Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for their lack of worship. “But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

    Nebuchadnezzar is enraged and brings the men before him, confronting them with the blazing furnace, to which they reply in Daniel 3: 16-18, “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.”

    Nebuchadnezzar’s rage grew, and he ordered the furnace to be heated to seven times its normal temperature. Then, the three men we bound and thrown into the furnace – into flames so hot that the soldiers who put them inside were killed.

    What happens next is the reason for writing this post… In Daniel 3:24, we read, “Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

    Nebuchadnezzar is amazed and has the men released from the furnace. They exit unharmed, and scripture tells us that “the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.”

    This story brings us three truths we can all embrace today as men…

    1. We will be asked to bow down to idols. You and I experience this every day. Our idols may not be golden or brought to us by kings, but there are temptations around every corner trying to lure us into bowing down. Our careers and businesses can become idols, and even our marriages and children can become idols. When we take God down off the pedestal and replace him there, we worship idols in our lives – and this can be a very easy trap to fall into.
    2. Sometimes, not bowing down will land us in the furnace. It can come with challenges and friction when we resist worshiping the idols that culture brings us. It can feel like we are choosing to step into the fire when we choose not to worship the things of this world. Standing on our faith and choosing God over culture can be very uncomfortable, especially today.
    3. We can have confidence knowing that Jesus stands in the furnace beside us. Where idols and division and friction abound, the one thing we can lean into with confidence is this: We are not alone. No matter what fire we find ourselves in or how hot the world cranks up the temperature, we can stand firm, knowing that God is in control. The idols will not last – but God will, and that’s where we put our faith.

    We are called to stand as leaders, husbands, fathers, and men in our churches. We are called not to bow to idols but to keep our eyes and our worship on the one true God who stands with us in the fire. When we do that and exhibit that level of confidence to the world we live in, we can have the same impact that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had.

    Daniel 3:28-29 shares that impact with us. “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

    CBMC Webmaster

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