Day 19: The Promise of an Everlasting Kingdom

Why do I see four men, completely unbound, walking around in the middle of the fire? (Dan 3:25, The Voice)

Read: The fiery furnace

The Big Picture: God's Promise Remains (198-219)

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Daniel and the Scary Sleepover (152-159)

The Biggest Story: Chapter 6 (79-89)

The Gospel Story Bible: Fiery Furnace and Daniel

The Ology:  God Always was and Always will be (13-15)

Sing:  O Come O Come Emmanuel (instrumental) (text - different from what we sing in America, this text is beautiful and worth reading!)
Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise
Think:  Daniel 6:26b "for He is the living God, enduring forever; 
His kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and His dominion shall be to the end."
Pray: Praise God that He has the Everlasting Kingdom.
Do: Fire

For You:
2 Chronicles 36:5-21
Daniel 3:8-30
Hebrews 11:13
1 Peter 3:9-12

     God's people have not listened to or obeyed His good Word. So, as Adam and Eve had to leave the garden, God's people had to leave God's place for them. Sin soils everything. But just as in the garden, God gives His people hope - even when His people feel hopeless. God never leaves His people - even when they leave Him. God still keeps His promises - no matter where His people are. God does not change - even though people change. God ALWAYS provides for His people - even when it seems like the situation is impossible. All other kingdoms rise and fall - but God's kingdom endures forever!

     God shows over and over again that He has not left His people and that He has a plan and purpose for His people, even though they have had to leave God's place. In fact, God uses His people IN captivity. One of the most important things to remember when reading all of these stories is that God's kingdom endures forever. So when we feel like we aren't where we belong (which we aren't), and when we feel persecuted (which we should be), we too can remember that God's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Our hope is much stronger and deeper because it is anchored in Jesus. He has come to lead us back to God's place - forever! God always has and God always will provide for His people. As always, this story isn't about 3 guys who stood up for what was right, or about Daniel who prayed, or about lions, or about the king, or about a really hot fire. This story is about God being the Hero. Just as God sent Jesus to be with the 3 Hebrew men in the fire, so God the Father sent His Son to be with us, to save us from our sin.

  Tidings and Tidbits:

• Read the story of Daniel in the lion's den (Daniel 6) or Esther. 
• Make sure to read The Biggest Story today if you have it. 
• Only 6 days until Christmas!!!