LFCC Loving Life Fall 2015 Magazine volume 9 | Page 14

Reflections on the Theme
“Refreshed by…Fire?”
by Dr. Monica L. Greene-Smalls

In this issue’s Feature Article, Pastor T. Anthony Thompson explains that it is our “time
of Refreshing, Recommitting, and Rebranding” and to “Expect the Great.” When we think of
the word, refresh, we likely think of a period to rest and rejuvenate. Allowing time for rest
and refreshing is the example that God set for us, as written in His Word, “…for in six days
the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day, He rested and was
refreshed” (Exodus 31:17). Similarly, we may think of refreshing activities as those that calm
and soothe. “And so it was, whenever the spirit of God was upon Saul, that David would take
a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the
distressing spirit would depart from him” (1 Samuel 16:23). Whenever possible, we take
vacations to “get away” from the busyness of daily life and become refreshed. “Then the king
said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself…” 1 Kings 13:7. Even
when we think of those refreshments that are tangible, we think of things that are cool or cold,
such as water, iced tea, lemonade, and ice cream.
While each of the examples above brings refreshment, there are times when God uses
fire to refresh us. Of course, a feeling of refreshment is not what automatically comes to mind
when hearing the word fire. Yet, God’s word provides examples of how he used fire, both
literally and figuratively, to refresh his children.
In the fourth chapter of Daniel, three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshack, and AbedNego, were thrown into the fiery furnace because they refused to worship anyone or anything
other than their true and living God. While the fire consumed the king’s men who placed
Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-Nego into the fire, they were not consumed. Rather, their faith
kept them alive; God protected them and was with them. King Nebuchadnezzar actually
witnessed “four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the
form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” The fire did not harm Shadrach, Meshack, and
Abed-Nego, but instead, their faith was reinforced and refreshed. Moreover, they were prepared for the greatness that awaited them after the fire. “Then the king promoted Shadrach,
Meshack, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon” (Daniel 3:30).