Hold your feet to the fire

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.” Daniel 3:17

Holding your feet to the fire means you’re being pressured to do something you don’t want to do or it can mean being held accountable for our actions. This is believed to have come from people actually putting someone's feet against a flame to make them do something or confess.

None of us like to be pressured to do something we’re not comfortable doing but so often we give into peer pressure. I believe this may be the reason so many adolescents start smoking. Rather than saying no they go along with the others and the next thing you know they’re hooked.

In the 3rd chapter of Daniel, we learn of the infamous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego where they faced imminent danger. Because of the arrogance of King Nebuchadnezzar, he had a gold image made and demanded the people worship it. A decree was issued which said those who failed to bow down and worship the idol would be thrown into the furnace. It would have been so much easier on them if they just pretended to worship the image but they could not worship both God and a statue so they refused to obey the king. They were summoned to appear before the king because of their defiance.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said to the king in Daniel 3:17-18, “...the God we serve is able to save us…But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” These men exhibited intregity and strong moral character. They were thrown into the furnace and because of their faith, God saved them without a hair on their head even being singed.

God is able to do the impossible yet we fail to trust him so many times. We go it alone then when we fall on our face we cry out for help. The example of these three men amaze me. They were so brave yet they knew what had to be done and they didn’t back down. They stood their ground and stood up for what they believed in, even if it meant they would perish.

When someone is holding our feet to the fire to go against our Godly principles, we have to stay strong and not give in to peer pressure. The Lord is able to gird us with courage to stand for what is right. Isaiah 43:42b is a reminder about the protection the Lord gives us when we go through difficult trials, “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” He protects us now just as he did those three men in the furnace.