Esther 6:3
And the king said, what honor or distinction has been given to Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, nothing has been done for him.
The Amplified Translation
The story recounted in the book of Esther begins to build in chapters 5 and 6. The Jews are to be destroyed by a decree given under the name of the king and it appears he doesn't even know that it was the Jews he agreed to have destroyed. After a dinner with Esther and the man who has plotted against the Jews(Haman), the king is unable to sleep. He asks to have the book of remembrance brought to him so he can read and one of the last entries is about how the Jew Mordecai saved his life. Then the twists of faith begin to unfold and the very man who plots against the Jews because of his hatred for Mordecai chooses how he will be honored and all of his plotting is soon turned over and used against him and his house. Then Mordecai is put into Haman position.
What has struck me here is the man of Mordecai. He could have went to the king when he learns of the plot against his people and pleaded with the king for their salvation based solely on the fact that he had saved the kings life. But instead he remained faithful to his position and didn't seek any retribution for his deeds. He did his job the best he could and honored God in the way he did it. The results of his deeds where forgotten by the king and caused Haman to hate him and plot the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai remains faithful to God and believes the Jews will be saved. Then like Joseph and Daniel Mordecai is lifted to highest position under the ruler of a nation holding God's people captive and his faithfulness to God becomes his fame, his deed remembered for generations to this very day.
I know I fall short daily in being faithful to God in my job, school work, parenting, friendships and living my life for Him as his people. Is the reward of a self-tooted horn better than the silent faithfulness of a man like Mordecai? Maybe we should ask Haman and his sons.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 8/31/2010
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility by Charles Swindoll
Chapter 2: Boot Camp at Cherith
Page 30
"I've had my own times when the brook has dried up, and I've found myself wondering about the things I've believed and preached for years. What happened? Had God died? No. My vision was just blurry. My circumstances caused my thinking to get a little foggy. I looked up, and I couldn't see Him as clearly. To exacerbate the problem, I felt as though He wasn't hearing me. The heavens were like brass. I would speak to him and nothing came back. My brook dried up."
This portion of Chuck's writing to me summarizes were I feel I am right now in life. I have been in this place of a dried up brook for years now and it seems at times to be more of a punishment than place of development as Chuck describes as we move further into the chapter. Are we still at this dried up brook by our choice, our failure, our stubbornness maybe it is a little of all of theses. More so I hope and have taken to praying that it is simply because he hasn't given up on us yet and wants us to grow and change. Would you please join me in that prayer.
Lord God I ask that you will work on all of who I am. All the parts that you created and combined together to make Me who I am but more importantly who You want me to be. I struggle to lay down my perceptions, my understanding, my fears, my desires, my dreams, my wants , my reality and place them before you. This is not an easy task for me. Give me the strength to do it and the grace to keep trying with each time I fail and take something back from before you. Lord I ask that you will make it know to me that you are there for me, that you love me, and that you are still wanting to use me. These are some of my doubts, my fears, my insecurities that I lay open before you.
In Jesus Christ's Name AMEN!
Chapter 2: Boot Camp at Cherith
Page 30
"I've had my own times when the brook has dried up, and I've found myself wondering about the things I've believed and preached for years. What happened? Had God died? No. My vision was just blurry. My circumstances caused my thinking to get a little foggy. I looked up, and I couldn't see Him as clearly. To exacerbate the problem, I felt as though He wasn't hearing me. The heavens were like brass. I would speak to him and nothing came back. My brook dried up."
This portion of Chuck's writing to me summarizes were I feel I am right now in life. I have been in this place of a dried up brook for years now and it seems at times to be more of a punishment than place of development as Chuck describes as we move further into the chapter. Are we still at this dried up brook by our choice, our failure, our stubbornness maybe it is a little of all of theses. More so I hope and have taken to praying that it is simply because he hasn't given up on us yet and wants us to grow and change. Would you please join me in that prayer.
Lord God I ask that you will work on all of who I am. All the parts that you created and combined together to make Me who I am but more importantly who You want me to be. I struggle to lay down my perceptions, my understanding, my fears, my desires, my dreams, my wants , my reality and place them before you. This is not an easy task for me. Give me the strength to do it and the grace to keep trying with each time I fail and take something back from before you. Lord I ask that you will make it know to me that you are there for me, that you love me, and that you are still wanting to use me. These are some of my doubts, my fears, my insecurities that I lay open before you.
In Jesus Christ's Name AMEN!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 8/29/2010
Esther 4:14
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from else where, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion.
The Amplified Translation
The fear of the destruction of her people was not enough to overcome her fear of the king Xerxes. That was until her adoptive uncle said the above. I believe it was his faith, which he was courageous enough to speak, in God's salvation of the Jews that gave her the strength to stand for her people even if it meant her destruction.
Is their something of your faith that you need to speak to someone? I know I have often remained silent. Could my words have made a difference in that moment? Has someone shared or spoken into your life something that has helped you or spurred you on? Maybe we all need to do a little more speaking of our faith into the lives of others.
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from else where, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion.
The Amplified Translation
The fear of the destruction of her people was not enough to overcome her fear of the king Xerxes. That was until her adoptive uncle said the above. I believe it was his faith, which he was courageous enough to speak, in God's salvation of the Jews that gave her the strength to stand for her people even if it meant her destruction.
Is their something of your faith that you need to speak to someone? I know I have often remained silent. Could my words have made a difference in that moment? Has someone shared or spoken into your life something that has helped you or spurred you on? Maybe we all need to do a little more speaking of our faith into the lives of others.
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