The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Daniel 13:15-18, “Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.

17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18 “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Anyone who reads history knows that bravery in battle is not known to older men alone. Nor has courage existed only in recent times. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were undoubtedly in their mid-to-late teens when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that everyone fall down and worship before the image he had created. They did not challenge Nebuchadnezzar in any manner. They simply refused to worship as he had demanded.

When arrogant men in any age are challenged, they don’t take it lightly. Nebuchadnezzar was one of those men. Yet, neither his position nor his attitude dissuaded the three young Hebrews. “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…” they bravely stated. Furthermore, whatever happens, they continued, “we are not going to worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Courage comes from faith; and those young Hebrew lads were gifted with true, unadulterated faith. The LORD still honors faith like that today. What is lacking are people, young and old, who will make such a courageous stand. Determine right now to be one of the “braves!” Don’t look around at others! You may be the only one! Standing alone is one of the bravest – besides, when you stand for the LORD, you’re not alone! He’s with you!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom