When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. Esther 3:5-6
There was a long dark history between the Amalekites and the Jews. The Amalekites fiercely attacked God’s people as they were headed to the Promised Land in the time of Moses (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). King Saul was commissioned to eliminate the Amalekites, but failed in completing his mission (1 Samuel 15). In fact, an Amalekite claimed to have killed Saul on the battlefield (2 Samuel 1:1-10). Bad blood ran very deep.
While Haman had a particular hatred toward Mordecai, because he refused to bow, Haman’s hatred was generalized to all of the Jewish people. Whether they bowed or not, Haman was determine to wipe them all out, if for any other reason, to eliminate Mordecai. There was no way to reason with the evil in Haman’s heart. His motives were both personal and dark.
Motives are tricky things to manage. In fact, people can so deceive themselves that they will do irrational and outrageous things to justify themselves. The Bible says, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD” (Proverbs 16:2). What we don’t understand about ourselves, God sees very clearly. We need to invite God to examine us, and to make sure that our heads are screwed on straight. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). None of us sees all sides of ourselves.
Every one of us has blind spots. Think about it. Why is it so easy for us to recognize flaws and poor motivations in other people, yet we have a hard time owning up to our own? When people point out our flaws, we often become irritated. After all, they must be wrong. We don’t see that in ourselves. We all need people who love us, but who are not impressed with us, to speak into our lives. If we surround ourselves with people who only tell us what we want to hear, watch out. This is dangerous territory.
Wrong motives become toxic when they interact with our pride. Stubbornness sets in. At this point, failure is the only thing that can cure us. But, who will be the casualties in the process?
What are you working hard at justifying these days? What insecurities does this justification reveal? Who are you seeking out for godly counsel? What is God saying to you?
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Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Are Convictions a Thing of the Past?
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. Esther 3:1-2
As a Agagite, there was plenty of bad blood between Haman and the Jewish people already. Agagites were descendents of Agag, king of the Amalekites. Just prior to the Israelites entering the Promised Land, they suffered a horrible attack by the Amalekites (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Saul, Israel’s first king, was commissioned to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15), yet Saul failed to complete the mission. With this history, Haman was naturally inclined to wipe out God’s people, and Mordecai was naturally inclined to resist Haman.
For Mordecai to bow to Haman would signify surrendering to a mortal enemy of the Jewish people. Mordecai wasn’t going to go there. His allegiance was to God and His people. Mordecai held this conviction, even at a high personal cost.
Conviction seems like an old fashioned word, yet attention to our convictions should be more en vague than ever. We live in a world where anything goes as long as you don’t get caught. But, if you do get caught, you just deny that you did anything wrong. Eventually, the story will cycle out of the news and out of people’s memory, and you can do whatever you want until you get caught again. But, what no one cares to tell you is that all of this comes at a high personal price. You are only as sick as your secrets.
A businessman was traveling with a partner in another country visiting a client. After dinner the clients expected to be “entertained.” The entertainment consisted of going to a strip club. The man was a Christian. He knew how sexual sin would affect himself, his relationship with God, his relationship with his wife, his relationship with his children, his friends, his church, his testimony, and the list could go on. There was no way he was going to a strip club. The problem was that there was only one car. What should he do?
He excused himself, hailed a cab at his own expense, and went back to the hotel. But, it was part of his job, wasn’t it? What if he lost his job? He was in another country. Who would ever find out? Those thoughts are very well part of the deception, but violating one’s conscience and convictions goes far deeper. This is why convictions must be determined before the situation arrives, not in the heat of the moment.
What are your convictions? What stands are you determined to take? Have you decided these things in your heart? Convictions are not just avoiding the sins listed in the Bible. Convictions often go beyond the actual sin to activities that border the sin -- things that will draw you in.
Some people can never step into a bar, because they know where that will lead them. Others should avoid a buffet. Others should consider how much of their life is spent exercising. Overdoing anything is unhealthy. The Bible teaches us to approach everything in moderation (1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Corinthians 9:25), and to avoid the things that will uniquely drag us down (Hebrews 12:1). (There is no moderation for sexual sin, by the way).
Where we get into trouble with convictions is when we begin to expect others to abide by our convictions. This can very quickly turn into legalism. Even in this passage, Mordecai doesn’t incite other Jews to rebel against Haman. He just quietly abides by his own convictions.
What have you chosen not to allow in your life? What is your plan if you are ever introduced into that situation? How do you get out of it? How do you firmly state your position without imposing your convictions on others? Are you prepared to say, “Fellas, you might think that I’m really old-fashioned, but…” When you are confronted with the “strip clubs” of life, on which side of the door will you end up?
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As a Agagite, there was plenty of bad blood between Haman and the Jewish people already. Agagites were descendents of Agag, king of the Amalekites. Just prior to the Israelites entering the Promised Land, they suffered a horrible attack by the Amalekites (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Saul, Israel’s first king, was commissioned to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15), yet Saul failed to complete the mission. With this history, Haman was naturally inclined to wipe out God’s people, and Mordecai was naturally inclined to resist Haman.
For Mordecai to bow to Haman would signify surrendering to a mortal enemy of the Jewish people. Mordecai wasn’t going to go there. His allegiance was to God and His people. Mordecai held this conviction, even at a high personal cost.
Conviction seems like an old fashioned word, yet attention to our convictions should be more en vague than ever. We live in a world where anything goes as long as you don’t get caught. But, if you do get caught, you just deny that you did anything wrong. Eventually, the story will cycle out of the news and out of people’s memory, and you can do whatever you want until you get caught again. But, what no one cares to tell you is that all of this comes at a high personal price. You are only as sick as your secrets.
A businessman was traveling with a partner in another country visiting a client. After dinner the clients expected to be “entertained.” The entertainment consisted of going to a strip club. The man was a Christian. He knew how sexual sin would affect himself, his relationship with God, his relationship with his wife, his relationship with his children, his friends, his church, his testimony, and the list could go on. There was no way he was going to a strip club. The problem was that there was only one car. What should he do?
He excused himself, hailed a cab at his own expense, and went back to the hotel. But, it was part of his job, wasn’t it? What if he lost his job? He was in another country. Who would ever find out? Those thoughts are very well part of the deception, but violating one’s conscience and convictions goes far deeper. This is why convictions must be determined before the situation arrives, not in the heat of the moment.
What are your convictions? What stands are you determined to take? Have you decided these things in your heart? Convictions are not just avoiding the sins listed in the Bible. Convictions often go beyond the actual sin to activities that border the sin -- things that will draw you in.
Some people can never step into a bar, because they know where that will lead them. Others should avoid a buffet. Others should consider how much of their life is spent exercising. Overdoing anything is unhealthy. The Bible teaches us to approach everything in moderation (1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Corinthians 9:25), and to avoid the things that will uniquely drag us down (Hebrews 12:1). (There is no moderation for sexual sin, by the way).
Where we get into trouble with convictions is when we begin to expect others to abide by our convictions. This can very quickly turn into legalism. Even in this passage, Mordecai doesn’t incite other Jews to rebel against Haman. He just quietly abides by his own convictions.
What have you chosen not to allow in your life? What is your plan if you are ever introduced into that situation? How do you get out of it? How do you firmly state your position without imposing your convictions on others? Are you prepared to say, “Fellas, you might think that I’m really old-fashioned, but…” When you are confronted with the “strip clubs” of life, on which side of the door will you end up?
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Thursday, January 27, 2011
Do The Right Thing
During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king. Esther 2:21-23
If like Mordecai, you and your people were being held captive by a world power, Xerxes’ assassination might not sound so bad. After all, if the powerful leader was gone, then the kingdom would splinter. Territorial leaders would grapple for power. The instability of the region might even allow for the Israelites escape. But, what often seems right to people is counter to what God intends.
Mordecai, being a devoted follower of the One True God, was not looking for the shrewd thing to do. He wasn’t carefully calculating how to manipulate the situation to his advantage. Mordecai erred on the side of generosity toward Xerxes and obeyed the commands of God. It would have been worse for Mordecai to end up being a co-conspirator in a tyrant’s death than to honor God by his actions and thus remain in captivity.
Mordecai did the right thing. He reported the assassination plot. The offenders were immediately executed, and Mordecai was immediately forgotten. There was no reward. There were no honors. There was no celebration. It was a good thing that Mordecai had better reasons for his actions. If he was looking for recognition, he would have been greatly disappointed.
Most of us are not going to ever overhear an assassination attempt. That’s just not very likely. But, what things do we hear, but choose to ignore? Is there a fellow believer who is headed for a train wreck? He’s started another bad relationship. She’s made bad choices at her job. Without becoming a busy body, how does God want to use you to help that person?
What things seem easy for you to get away with these days? What are you tempted to fudge on in your life? What is the right thing to do, whether anyone else knows or not?
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If like Mordecai, you and your people were being held captive by a world power, Xerxes’ assassination might not sound so bad. After all, if the powerful leader was gone, then the kingdom would splinter. Territorial leaders would grapple for power. The instability of the region might even allow for the Israelites escape. But, what often seems right to people is counter to what God intends.
Mordecai, being a devoted follower of the One True God, was not looking for the shrewd thing to do. He wasn’t carefully calculating how to manipulate the situation to his advantage. Mordecai erred on the side of generosity toward Xerxes and obeyed the commands of God. It would have been worse for Mordecai to end up being a co-conspirator in a tyrant’s death than to honor God by his actions and thus remain in captivity.
Mordecai did the right thing. He reported the assassination plot. The offenders were immediately executed, and Mordecai was immediately forgotten. There was no reward. There were no honors. There was no celebration. It was a good thing that Mordecai had better reasons for his actions. If he was looking for recognition, he would have been greatly disappointed.
Most of us are not going to ever overhear an assassination attempt. That’s just not very likely. But, what things do we hear, but choose to ignore? Is there a fellow believer who is headed for a train wreck? He’s started another bad relationship. She’s made bad choices at her job. Without becoming a busy body, how does God want to use you to help that person?
What things seem easy for you to get away with these days? What are you tempted to fudge on in your life? What is the right thing to do, whether anyone else knows or not?
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Thelma and Louise
When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up. Esther 2:19-20
When life brings us to the brink, many of us are tempted to pull a Thelma and Louise, and just plunge right over the cliff. Whether those feelings are toward literal actions or emotional reactions, they betray our fears and lack of trust. Trust is the antidote for fear.
In the book of Esther, we don’t see a strong prayer life. At this point, the Israelites were a spiritual mess. But, what we do see is Esther’s implicit trust in her cousin and adopted father, Mordecai. In the fog of despair and uncertainty, Mordecai was her guiding light. (“Like sands through the hour glass” – nevermind, that’s Days of Our Lives).
While we see God’s providence all over the book of Esther, God is not mentioned one time in the book. While God is certainly not out of the picture, He is operating behind the scenes. We don’t know anything about Mordecai or Esther’s connection with God. In exile, God’s people seem to have been very disconnected, yet God still endeavored to work on their behalf. And, He’s still there for us today.
The parallel is that even for those who have given up on God or who ignore Him, God doesn’t give up on any of us. God is always arranging circumstances and “coincidences” to draw us back to Him. His desire from the very beginning was to be in relationship with us. That has never changed.
How is your connection with God? Is it a direct connection? Do others help you? God wants to spend time with you. Take two minutes right now to be silent in His presence. Watch the clock if you need to. I do.
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When life brings us to the brink, many of us are tempted to pull a Thelma and Louise, and just plunge right over the cliff. Whether those feelings are toward literal actions or emotional reactions, they betray our fears and lack of trust. Trust is the antidote for fear.
In the book of Esther, we don’t see a strong prayer life. At this point, the Israelites were a spiritual mess. But, what we do see is Esther’s implicit trust in her cousin and adopted father, Mordecai. In the fog of despair and uncertainty, Mordecai was her guiding light. (“Like sands through the hour glass” – nevermind, that’s Days of Our Lives).
While we see God’s providence all over the book of Esther, God is not mentioned one time in the book. While God is certainly not out of the picture, He is operating behind the scenes. We don’t know anything about Mordecai or Esther’s connection with God. In exile, God’s people seem to have been very disconnected, yet God still endeavored to work on their behalf. And, He’s still there for us today.
The parallel is that even for those who have given up on God or who ignore Him, God doesn’t give up on any of us. God is always arranging circumstances and “coincidences” to draw us back to Him. His desire from the very beginning was to be in relationship with us. That has never changed.
How is your connection with God? Is it a direct connection? Do others help you? God wants to spend time with you. Take two minutes right now to be silent in His presence. Watch the clock if you need to. I do.
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My Apologies
Dear Readers,
I apologize for sending out multiple copies of devotionals today. I am trying to resolve a problem with the email subscriptions. I am not trying to needlessly spam you.
If you ever have a problem receiving the devotionals through a feed, you can go directly to the page here: http://galatians419.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading,
Allen
I apologize for sending out multiple copies of devotionals today. I am trying to resolve a problem with the email subscriptions. I am not trying to needlessly spam you.
If you ever have a problem receiving the devotionals through a feed, you can go directly to the page here: http://galatians419.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading,
Allen
The InBetween Time
Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name. Esther 2:12-14
Twelve months is a long time to prepare for a blind date. In a time before microderm abrasion and photoshop, a full year was apparently necessary to be received by the king. This seems like a lot to put up with.
For most of us, waiting is far worse than the diagnosis. Worrying about a situation takes a greater toll sometimes than the actual rejection. Esther had a full year to wait. She had no idea what the result would be. The difficulty was in the in-between time. Much like Joseph who sat forgotten in prison for two years (Genesis 41:1), when we are in an open loop and closure seems beyond the horizon, it’s easy to fall into despair and doubt. It’s easy to question everything and everyone. It’s easy to give up.
In these valleys, every one of us has a decision to make: do we fight against what we fear or do we cooperate even when we don’t understand the outcome? Now, if you’re in captivity or prison, you don’t have much choice physically but to wait. But, while our bodies can be incarcerated, no one can put chains on our souls.
Whether you face a dead end job, a lifeless marriage, or actual prison, your attitude is up to you. (Those of you who know me well at this point are probably saying: “Hello, kettle, you’re black.”) And, you’re right. I have thrown some pity parties like it was 1999 -- Y2K, you know).
But, as I’ve grown older, wiser and tired of living in the pit of despair, I’ve decided to change some things. I count my blessings more often. I’ve become more accepting of the fact that God has me where I am for a reason. I’ve learned that cooperation achieves far more than competition. Do I still freak out over things? Yes, I do once in a while.
What circumstance are you fighting against these days? How can you become more cooperative in the situation? I’m not saying that you’re wrong and the situation is right. But, how can you allow God to develop His character in you using your situation as a catalyst for growth?
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Twelve months is a long time to prepare for a blind date. In a time before microderm abrasion and photoshop, a full year was apparently necessary to be received by the king. This seems like a lot to put up with.
For most of us, waiting is far worse than the diagnosis. Worrying about a situation takes a greater toll sometimes than the actual rejection. Esther had a full year to wait. She had no idea what the result would be. The difficulty was in the in-between time. Much like Joseph who sat forgotten in prison for two years (Genesis 41:1), when we are in an open loop and closure seems beyond the horizon, it’s easy to fall into despair and doubt. It’s easy to question everything and everyone. It’s easy to give up.
In these valleys, every one of us has a decision to make: do we fight against what we fear or do we cooperate even when we don’t understand the outcome? Now, if you’re in captivity or prison, you don’t have much choice physically but to wait. But, while our bodies can be incarcerated, no one can put chains on our souls.
Whether you face a dead end job, a lifeless marriage, or actual prison, your attitude is up to you. (Those of you who know me well at this point are probably saying: “Hello, kettle, you’re black.”) And, you’re right. I have thrown some pity parties like it was 1999 -- Y2K, you know).
But, as I’ve grown older, wiser and tired of living in the pit of despair, I’ve decided to change some things. I count my blessings more often. I’ve become more accepting of the fact that God has me where I am for a reason. I’ve learned that cooperation achieves far more than competition. Do I still freak out over things? Yes, I do once in a while.
What circumstance are you fighting against these days? How can you become more cooperative in the situation? I’m not saying that you’re wrong and the situation is right. But, how can you allow God to develop His character in you using your situation as a catalyst for growth?
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Monday, January 24, 2011
Someone to Watch Over Me
Every day [Mordecai] walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. Esther 2:11
Mordecai was Esther’s rock in a very traumatic situation. No, the harem wasn’t all manicures and pillow fights. It was a rather intimidating place. His presence helped to prevent her despair. When her feelings might have gotten the best of her, Mordecai was around to keep her grounded.
If there was trouble in the harem, no one could really remove Esther from the situation. Mordecai could do very little to protect her from physical harm. But, his role was far more important. He was that calm, persistent presence that stayed nearby and helped her process what she was dealing with.
We all need a non-anxious presence in our lives. For believers, we find that presence in God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that God would send an Advocate, which can also mean Counselor, Comforter or Encourager (John 14:16-17). God’s Spirit is always present with us (Psalm 139:7). He gives us the things to say when we don’t know what to say (Luke 12:11-12). When we don’t even know how to pray, the Spirit prays on our behalf (Romans 8:26). When we need wisdom and direction, it is God’s Spirit, who lives in every believer (Romans 8:9), who inspired every word in the Bible (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16). God’s people, filled with God’s Spirit, interacting with God’s Word, is a very powerful thing.
God also brings other believers in our lives to encourage and help us. But, let’s take that one step further, who has God brought into your life that you can encourage and help? Who can you walk alongside in a difficult time? Your calm reassurance might be just the thing to help them through.
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Mordecai was Esther’s rock in a very traumatic situation. No, the harem wasn’t all manicures and pillow fights. It was a rather intimidating place. His presence helped to prevent her despair. When her feelings might have gotten the best of her, Mordecai was around to keep her grounded.
If there was trouble in the harem, no one could really remove Esther from the situation. Mordecai could do very little to protect her from physical harm. But, his role was far more important. He was that calm, persistent presence that stayed nearby and helped her process what she was dealing with.
We all need a non-anxious presence in our lives. For believers, we find that presence in God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that God would send an Advocate, which can also mean Counselor, Comforter or Encourager (John 14:16-17). God’s Spirit is always present with us (Psalm 139:7). He gives us the things to say when we don’t know what to say (Luke 12:11-12). When we don’t even know how to pray, the Spirit prays on our behalf (Romans 8:26). When we need wisdom and direction, it is God’s Spirit, who lives in every believer (Romans 8:9), who inspired every word in the Bible (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16). God’s people, filled with God’s Spirit, interacting with God’s Word, is a very powerful thing.
God also brings other believers in our lives to encourage and help us. But, let’s take that one step further, who has God brought into your life that you can encourage and help? Who can you walk alongside in a difficult time? Your calm reassurance might be just the thing to help them through.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
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