There is an art to washing dishes, and my mom was—and is—a skilled artist.  In fact, she is one of the great masters of all time.  I don’t find washing dishes to be a terribly nasty chore; in fact, I find it quite therapeutic.  Before we go much further, let me respond to two quick questions that may have popped into your mind. No, I don’t have a great love of dishwater, and yes, I have a dishwasher.  With those issues resolved, let’s get on with the subject of todays devotional.

I distinctly remember learning the art of dishwashing at the hands of my mother, no pun intended!  The most important aspect of this activity is ensuring the dishwater is hot enough, especially when the dishes are rinsed.  I always wanted to rinse the dishes in warm or cool water.  Each time I tried to get away with this mom would always say, “Blake, that water is not hot enough!!!!”  And guess what, yep, I had to do the dish all over again!!!  This, however, did not thwart me in my efforts to rinse in cool water.  But, in the end, mom won, as usual!

Now that I am on my own and washing my own dishes, I understand what all the hubbub was about all those years ago.  Hot water—I mean very hot water—ensures the dishes are in fact clean from soapy film and germs that may linger on the dish after washing.  The hotter the water, the cleaner the dish; it’s just that simple.

The book of Daniel tells the story of 3 Hebrew men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who learned first hand just what being in “hot water” was all about.  The story is well-known, especially to children who learn about these men in Sunday school or Vacation Bible School.  But there are implications for adults as well; implications that teach us a great deal about our walk with the Lord.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a large idol constructed and placed where all the people could see it.  His orders were that everyone should bow down and worship that idol.  Our three intrepid heroes, however, refused to bow to any one but the Lord and this infuriated the king.  So angry was he that he ordered the three men to be bound and thrown in a large furnace.

Daniel 3:19-20 records this for us, “Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  You want to talk about hot!!!  According to Nebuchadnezzar, the “water just wasn’t hot enough!”  Notice that the king had the furnace heated seven times hotter, just for good measure.

Sometimes in the Christian walk, we feel as if God is heating up the furnace.  No matter which way we turn, no matter what circumstances we face, it seems God is only content to stoke the furnace of adversity and maker it hotter than ever before.  At times like these, we wonder why God allows these circumstances in our lives. But there is always a reason, and in the end our lives are fuller and our walks and relationships with Jesus are richer.

The end of the story is drastically different from its beginning.  When Nebuchadnezzar looks into the furnace, he sees four men—not three—walking in the fire.  He describes the fourth man as looking like a “son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25).  When they exit, they are no longer bound, their clothes are not singed, and they don’t smell of smoke!

We must understand that taking a stand for God does not mean our circumstances will become easier.  In fact, just the opposite is true.  These three men took a stand for the Lord and found themselves in hot water!  But God was with them in the flame.  The great lesson here is that we do not go through trials and tribulations alone; God is with us even when our circumstances tell us differently.

How hot is the water where you are today?  Does it seem that God is stoking the furnace, making it unbearably hot for you?  Do you wonder if you have been forgotten or if God even cares about where you are?  Think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in that furnace.  God did not forsake them but was with them through the entire ordeal and brought them safely out.  When they emerged, their faith was stronger, their understanding of God was clearer, and they were greater witnesses for God.  So, is the water hot enough where you are today?  If not and if God is heating things up, just remember the words of Job, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)