FRIDAY, APRIL 20
Daniel 3:26-27
Philippians 1:6

“… he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

NOT EVEN THE SMELL OF FIRE

Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon did all he could to destroy these men who had defied his decree. But by the infinitely superior power of their God, they were not only preserved alive, but at the king’s command simply “came forth of the midst of the fire” (Dan 3:26).

When God performed sign miracles in Bible times, He did not do them halfway. Israel and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel discovered that to their amazement (1 Kings 18), even as Pharaoh had learned centuries before (Exod 7-12). Nor will there be any doubt among earthdwellers during the Great Tribulation concerning the source of their judgments (Rev 6:16).

When Daniel’s friends walked out of the furnace, there was not “an hair of their head singed … nor the smell of fire had passed on them” (Dan 3:27). When our God delivers miraculously, He delivers completely! Not one Israelite perished in the Red Sea. Not one Assyrian soldier survived to attack Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah. Not one of the 144,000 will perish in “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer 30:7). In the many cases when our Lord Jesus Christ healed the sick and raised the dead, there was always complete healing, instantly.

All of this is of tremendous encouragement to us who, by the grace of God, are in the Body of Christ today. In spite of all our sin and spiritual failure, Christ is cleansing us from all sin by the application of the merits of His precious blood (1 John 1:9). Though Satan accuses us, and the world may hate us, He intercedes for us night and day (Rev 12:10). Someday, in our glorified bodies, not even “the smell of fire” will be upon us, to the praise of His glory! Because of His love, the Bride will have no “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph 5:27). Thank God, He who began a good work in us “will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).

THOUGHT: We have a God who knows how to make promises and has a fantastic reputation for keeping them.
PRAYER: Lord, may I sense the fragrance of Thy presence.