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Be a History Maker

History was one of the subjects that I loved.  I did not love the memorization work, but I loved the stories and the background they gave to present times.  It is sad that some modern governments try to hide parts of history for the benefit of their political agendas.  Nevertheless, educated and networked citizens would know better.  They know the true history and will not succumb to history presentations that have a propaganda laced agenda.  There is one story that people tend to label as fable, but because it involves a recognized king in history and the records date close enough to the event, it can be recognized as being true.

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Most of us would have read today's chapter in Daniel, or at least heard it in a sermon. 3 Jewish men full of the Holy Spirit proclaimed with great boldness that they will NOT worship the gods of King Nebuchadnezzar in spite of them being potentially thrown into the furnace. The king was obviously impressed in the end. He saw a fourth person that looked like a heavenly figure, and the three came out totally unscathed. What a testimony. These guys were prepared to die for their faith, but in the end the king instituted a new decree to honor God.

Daniel 3:28-29 NKJV
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!  Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

This story reminds me of what Paul said in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Either way we win. No loss! By having this attitude or mindset, Daniel's 3 friends became history makers. God is calling each of us to become history makers within our own situations. We have a unique call to be history makers for at least one other, if not the whole world. Daniel's 3 friends became history makers for the king of Babylon, and eventually the whole world. In fact a new law was passed because of them.

Father, help me heed the call to be a history maker for someone today.

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