This has been a difficult year, no doubt. But if you look closely, you can see the fourth man who was in the fire with us during 2020.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were thrown into the fire, their punisher saw a fourth man in the fire with who looked like “the son of the gods”. Their oppressor saw the Collateral Beauty.
When the story of these brave Jewish boys are told, the injustice they faced only serves to remind us that the Fourth Man fights for us. He rights our wrongs. (Isaiah 49:25)
The extreme heat of the fire is only important to show the power of the Fourth Man. It demonstrates His deremination to keep us safe. (Isaiah 43:2)
The chains only serve to demonstrate the freedom provided by the Fourth Man. Without the chains, we wouldn’t know Him as the chain breaker. We wouldn’t know we could walk in freedom in the middle of a trial. (John 8:36)
If you read the story of the three Hebrew boys and focus on Nebuchadnezzar you will become bitter, fearful, and hopeless.
If you focus on the boys, you will feel inadequate, question your commitment, look inward.
But if you read the story and focus on the Fourth Man you will find hope, you will be encouraged. You will tell a different story.
As we leave 2020, how will we tell the story? Will we give focus on the fire or the Fourth Man? Will the enemy get the headline or God?
I encourage you to focus on the Collateral Beauty of 2020. Let’s allow what God has done this year to be the Headline. Yes, in 2020 we have faced injustices, the fire has been turned up, and restrictions imposed but the real story is what the Fouth Man is doing in the middle of the chaos.
Readers, I challenge you for the next seven days, to share something wonderful that happened in 2020. Share stories of how the enemy tried to keep you down but the fouth man showed up and delivered, rescued, saved. Share your collateral beauty stories. Let’s end the year giving glory to our God!
What is your collateral beauty story? Share it!
“Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.””
Daniel 3:28-29 CSB