Most fires consume what touches their flames. We are told to get close enough just to feel the warmth. We are still chilly from the outside air, but at least our frontside is warmed by the intoxicating flames. But we need to get in the flames. How?

The kingdom was commanded to bow to a statue. If they didn’t, they would be thrown into the furnace. These men, Daniel’s friends, were named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, but their original names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. In order, their birth names meant “God has favoured”, “who is what God is”, and “Jehovah has helped”.

Names always mean something. In the Bible, a person’s name often correlates to their life. However, for these men, their mission was much greater: they set an example for the church. Upon Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has favor on those who trust in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies and foreshadowings of the temple sacrifices. Because of His great favor, we stand in astonishment at His character. He is more than we could ever know, much less what we can even imagine. Truly, with Christ, we say, “How great You are!” As we walk this life and follow Christ’s example of cultivating a relationship with God, we are reminded that only in the strength of Jehovah are we able to stand and function properly. Without Him, we merely stumble in the dark. Nonetheless, the lesson these men can teach us isn’t limited to their names applying to the identity and journey of a Christian.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to bow to the idol. Soon, Christians must remain standing. When everyone echoes the sentiments to bow, we must remain unwavering. We must stand for God more than wanting to protect our own comfort. We must embrace the threat of the furnace, for in it, Jesus is.

We are told not to touch flames unless we want burned. Now, I speak of spiritual things and not physical; we must embrace the flame if we are ever to grow. God is an all-consuming fire. When you get close to HIs face, the holiness catches flame and purges away any dead and rotten thing.

Moses’ encounter with the bush. Elisha and Elijah with the chariot of fire. Isaiah with the vision of the throne room. The believers in the upper room on whom the Holy Spirit descended like fire. The seven spirits before the LORD GOD in the throne room in the revelation of John. The fire in His eyes seen by Daniel and John. The flame of His presence in the wilderness with the Israelites. The sacrifice on Mount Carmel consumed by flame.

All these are just glimpses of His magnificent beauty. That’s what fire does. It draws you with its beauty. It is the same with God, except we carry the physical principle with us – we wish to not get too close in case something burns, some dead religious thing. We are called to not be lukewarm, yet that is what we do when we stand close enough to feel the effects of the fire but never to be changed. That is the danger. When those who say they believe stand on the outer realm of the fire and never get into His presence, they bow down to their selfishness and self-preservation.

We naturally do not like pain. Yet, how can a tree grow with dead limbs on it? The dead limb is taken off so a new one can grow.

We must understand that before God can do anything in us, we must be open and willing. This means we must stand close to, if not in, the flames and not be scared of its heat. For in the fire, there is Jesus.

We must allow Him to turn our old fleshly nature into ashes so beauty may arise in a new flame.

Stand and embrace the heat of His presence.

Chase Him, regardless of how heated it gets. For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). Do not love your life, for you will lose it. You will be shamed as the one steward was with the one talent left. Instead, lose your life and give it to Him so that you may keep it. It is no longer about our convictions and self-preservation. We either serve Him or serve ourselves. We either stand close enough to be warmed, or we get engulfed.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28

Catch fire. May our hearts in unison once more say, “Ignite our hearts, Lord.”