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October 1st

The bible reading today is in Luke 1 and John 1:1-14.

These two gospel records begin with accounts about the births of John the Baptist and the Messiah, Jesus. What a tandem, the announcer of the King’s coming and the King Himself.

Luke was a physician who followed Jesus. He was probably a Gentile. He accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys. He wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Being a doctor, he was full of academia and was a scholar no doubt. But when he wrote, he wrote for the “man on the street”...the common man...so that “everyone” could have the best opportunity to understand the gospel of Christ and believe.

Now the gospel of John was written by the Apostle John. He and his brother James were two of the first that Jesus invited to follow Him. John was identified as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” God would use him to write the Gospel of John, 1,2,3 John, and the book of Revelation. No one had a closer relationship with Jesus than John. And remember at the cross? The dying Jesus placed his mother in John’s arms, saying.. ”Mother, here is your son”...speaking of John. Let’s remember that when we read John’s love letter/book about Jesus!

Several things in our reading today move my heart. First, Priest Zacharias, the baptizer’s father, was given a second chance to respond to God ”in faith” rather than unbelief.

When the angel told Zacharias that he and his wife would have a son that would prepare the way of the Messiah, Zacharias asked for proof...displaying his unbelief. Today’s reading shows Zacharias, publicly supporting his wife’s answer that “John” would be their son’s name. How gracious of God to bless this man with another chance to testify “in belief” of God’s word.

Oh, friends, that’s our Savior God. The same gracious One. May we repent of our unbelief and believe Him once again.

A second thing in our reading touches my heart. John the Baptist had a simple and yet very important assignment from God.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:6-7‬

“He was sent by God to the Israelites to bear witness to Jesus.”

For John to be sent from God, he would have had to be in the presence of God. There have been many times when I have heard the testimony of others that God had given them an assignment particular to them. And upon hearing their testimony, I have wondered why God has not spoken such a God-sized assignment for me...for my life.

Now I see the answer again, one must practice the presence of God daily in order to hear and be “sent from Him” on missions particular...like John the Baptist.

Help us Lord Jesus. Give us hearts to desire You supremely. So much so that we would not miss the awareness of Your presence every hour...with faith anticipation of being used by You one more time.

And one more thing reaches my heart today from the reading...“In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-5‬

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:14‬

The Word became flesh. God did that, God the Son did that, God the Son the creator became flesh and blood. God the Son, Jesus, in whom was and is eternal life and light for those who believe Him. He, God very God became flesh. And He dwelt among mankind...yes.

Why? That man might see his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father...full of grace...enough of grace to save us from our sins...and truth...enough truth in the gospel to set us free to serve and worship him with all of our hearts.

Awesome. Thank You, Jesus.

Have a great day

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September 30th

The bible reading today is in Malachi chapters 1-4.

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi were the three post-exilic prophets to Judah in and around the time of rebuilding the Temple and the wall of Jerusalem.

We don't know much more about Malachi besides the fact that he was the last messenger from God to the people of God’s promise...1000 years after Moses and 400 years before the coming of the Messiah, the Christ child. After Malachi, there would be the 400 years of silence...where God chose not to speak to His people until the ministry of John the Baptist...preparing the way of and to Jesus.

So who did God target for the message from Malachi? The priests first, and then the people of Israel.

The people in Israel did have personal responsibility to follow the Lord. But so did the priests, only with a higher accountability to God.

Oh, friends, God blessed Israel with the Levitical priesthood for a purpose...to lead the nation in their reasonable service of worship to the one and only God, Elohim Yahweh...the Great I Am...and they would come to know Him as Jesus, one day. God blesses his church with “God called” Pastors on purpose. To shepherd the disciples of Christ under their charge toward their reasonable service of worship of their Savior God...the Great I Am, Jesus Christ.

Satan took aim and attacked the priests in Israel. Many fell to the temptations of the old serpent. And Israel lost spiritual leadership along the way. Satan is doing the same thing in our day, taking aim at our pastors with the intent of taking them down too.

None of the priests were perfect and none of our pastors are. Israelites of faith were responsible to pray for their spiritual leaders. And so are we. Friends, let us not forget to pray for our pastors.

So what did God require of His Temple priests and the nation? Let’s listen to God through His messenger...“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from “my” statutes and have “not” kept them.

You have turned aside from My word, so you have turned aside from Me...“friends, remember the words of Jesus?... “

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-16‬ ‭

God was saying to the priests and subsequently, the nation, “Your love for Me has grown cold. You can say all you want too, but your unbelief and disobedience speaks far louder. You don't want my help, you think that you are OK on your own but, how wrong you are.

“So return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. Remember...I have loved you...”

I wonder if this last message prepared Israel for the next 400years?

It’s the rest of the story.

Have a great day

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September 29th

Our bible reading today is in Psalm 126 and Nehemiah 11-13.

The Babylonian captives from Judah, after 70+ years, have come home. Jeremiah prophesied it and it came true.

They are a small number compared to the millions exiled by King Nebechadnezer, but they followed Zerubabbel, Ezra, and Nehemiah back to their ruined cities to rebuild their promised land way of life. They worked on the Temple in Jerusalem. But they were soon intimidated by Tobiah and other godless neighbors so they slowed the Temple work down to a crawl.

Ezra came to set a spiritual tone and set a fire of desire in their hearts to get back to work. To finish (to a measure) the House of God’s Presence. But the wall around Jerusalem was another matter. It was still torn down beyond recognition.

So God raised up a man for the job. His name was Nehemiah. Was he in the construction business? No. But the Bible says God’s hand was upon him...that would be more than enough. Nehemiah inspired 50,000 people to work with him and God on the wall. And the job was finished in record time...52 days.

It is thought by some that Psalm 126 was written by Ezra for the workers on the Temple and the wall. Let’s read the 6 verses...“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” (We could hardly believe it. We were home and it was beginning to look like home. It was like we were “in” a dream.)

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter” (the kind of laughter that’s good like a medicine...we became like Isaac, children of laughter. Spurgeon said to his congregation: “sometimes the loftiest, holiest expression of all is laughter”...” and our mouths were full of it...” said Nehemiah.

"and our tongues were enlivened with shouts of joy"...singing. When our tongues were set free, speaking was not enough to declare our gratitude to God. Our hearts were filled with the joy that is our strength.

Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things....The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!

And to end the song Ezra wrote to the workers...“Those who sow in tears “shall reap” with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

You have sown seeds of faith in our Savior God...not just when your circumstances were happy ones. You have sown seeds of trust in God even when suffering brought tears. ”You sowed in tears” when you were exiled in Babylon and now on the wall, and what God promised He has done. He brought you home for rejoicing and He will do much more for your joy in the days ahead.

Wow, what a promise keeper our Savior God Jesus is.

Have a great day

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September 28th

The bible reading today is in Nehemiah 8-10.

The building of the wall around Jerusalem was completed. Now Nehemiah led the people in a dedication and a celebration pointing to what great things the Lord had done. He opened all the gates in the wall just after noon and the people poured into the city.

“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And Nehemiah told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people....and as he opened it all the people stood.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All the people gathered as one man to hear and receive the word of God from the scribe Ezra. What that tells me is that the Holy Spirit was working...moving God’s people to hunger for the Lord and His word.

They started listening to Ezra read the Pentateuch as the sun came up, at 6:am, and they listened for 6 straight hours.

That, my friends, was the work of the Spirit. It was the beginning of a genuine spiritual revival in Judah.

“Oh...Lord, do that again...do it among Your people today, Your churches in our nation. May the Holy Spirit move in our midst giving us a desire for God’s presence and for God’s word to us again.”

How did the people of Judah receive the words of God spoken by Ezra in Nehemiah’s day? "All the people stood...”

Out of respect for God’s man Ezra, and most importantly out of respect for the words of God...the people stood.

40 years ago, I had the privilege of preaching in a revival meeting in a village just outside Belize City, Belize, Central America.

People had walked 10-20 miles from their homes along the coast to get to where their church worshipped. After several songs, it was my turn to preach the Word.

I walked to the pulpit with excitement. And I turned and saw something that I had never seen. The people stood and applauded me, and then they remained standing for the duration of my 45-minute sermon. I was humbled beyond measure.

And the missionary walked to my side and asked if I would preach some more...they wanted to hear God’s words again.

By the way, it wasn’t their standing that inspired me. It was their hearts of love for everything Jesus.

Let’s listen to more of the people’s response to the reading of God’s words during those days of celebration.

“And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God...And the people bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And the people even wept, but Nehemiah exhorted them not to be sorrowful that day. That day was a “holy day” unto the Lord. So on that day they were to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord...for the joy of the Lord was their strength.

How awesome, there would be some solemn assemblies for the people of faith. But not today...they would throw a party and toast God their Savior.

Have a great day.

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September 27th

The bible reading today is in Nehemiah chapters 6 and 7.

What do I see God doing in our reading today? I see Him “Keeping His promise”. The promise He gave to their forefather Jacob, when he was scared and feeling alone and wondering about the future....“Behold, I am with you and I will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God brought these Judean exiles home, just like He promised, back to the land that He gave them. Many rejoiced, but most continued in their despair.

“God help us to lay hold of your promises and believe... every day...leaving the results and timing up to You by faith.”

God was with them in Babylon. Just like He promised Jacob, that He would be with them and keep them wherever they would go. God watched over the Judean exiles. He kept them, just like He promised. Just like the good shepherd who watched over his father’s flock, even when he moved his sheep from one mountainside to another.

God was keeping His promise, not just to Nehemiah, but to all of the beaten-down Israelis of faith. The people saw and heard the promise giver in Nehemiah. Their faith was boosted and lifted up for the work ahead with God.

In our reading I also see God teaching His kids. God could have miraculously erected the perfect wall around Jerusalem all by Himself. He parted the Red Sea all by Himself. He fed 3 million Israelites in the wilderness by sending mana and quail from heaven...all by Himself. God quenched the thirst of three million wilderness wanderers by a river of water that came forth from the rock of Horeb in the desert...all by Himself.

So why did He use the exiles to rebuild Jerusalem and the wall around them? God was wanting more than the city restored, He wanted spiritual fellowship restored with Him and with each other.

Look at the houses going up, the Temple going up, the wall going up, what do we see? Men, women, children working together on a God-given assignment.

What was God teaching them? He was teaching them that the best medicine for “their depression” was a good workday. Everyone didn't do the same work, but everyone had a work to do. They were working together on something greater than themselves. They were working on something that God was building.

Oh, friends, the wall went up in 52 days because friends and families worked together to do the job. May the Lord help us to see the church this way. God is at work and invites us to work together on His God-sized assignments...the work is energizing and a reward in itself. But the fellowship of the saints during the work of the Lord is priceless!

What happened next gives us more insight into why God was using families and friends to do the work of this ministry in Jerusalem....“Now Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall...” So Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem instigated a plan to stop the work on the wall around Jerusalem.

Think about it...they weren't just trying to stop the Judeans’ work on the wall. In reality they were taking on God...what a mismatch.

Do you see it? When we are working together on God’s assignments, whatever comes against us, is coming against Him, and He is the Captain of undefeated angel armies. That’s some kind of construction superintendent!

They started out by pretending to be neighborly. But Nehemiah saw right through it. So Nehemiah simply gave them a nod and kept on working.

Nehemiah probably knew some history on these guys...they had been bullying the returned exiles for years. But I think there is another reason why Nehemiah would not be persuaded to leave the wall for some R&R with the unscrupulous politicians of the region.

Nehemiah looked around at the workers on the wall...some young...some old...but all were giving their all to finish the wall. So Nehemiah boldly said...”I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

Nothing was going to distract Nehemiah and his people from the work God gave them to do...“Not my will but yours be done Father”....not Nehemiah...but Jesus...praise God that he would not be distracted from his assignment...the cross for you and me!

Have a great day!

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September 26th

The bible reading today is in Nehemiah chapters 1-5.

1000 years after the time of Moses and some 400 years before the birth of Jesus, the nation of Israel was in a desperate condition. Both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were completely destroyed.

Continuing in review, 70 years after Babylonian captivity, 50,000 Jews out of the 3,000,000 Jews deported, took advantage of King Darius’s offer of allowing God’s kids to return to their promised land to rebuild Jerusalem, especially their temple.

That’s only about 2% of the Israelis that were exiled to Babylon, but they went “anyway. They went “home”. They went home to “devastation”, but they went home “to rebuild” their homes, their cities, and their promised way of life.

There was a second wave and a third wave of Jewish exiles that would leave their homes in the Persian provinces to return to their homeland in Israel. Nehemiah would be a part of that third wave.

Apparently Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, had returned to Jerusalem for a short period of time. After his visit to Judah, Hanani came back to his home in Susa. There he talked with his brother about the dire circumstances that plagued the people of Israel after their return from exile.

“And Hanani said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Nehemiah’s body was in the capital city of Persia at this time, but from the text, his heart was in Jerusalem.

“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps your covenant with your people...hear me...They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭1:4-5, 10-11‬ ‭ESV‬

Nehemiah’s heart was broken for his people’s plight and his heart remembered the land and the once beautiful city of David that God had given to them. Something had to give...or better still “Someone”. So Nehemiah prayed to “the Lord” and volunteered to be “the “someone” that God could use if He wanted to.

That reminds me of another someone...“And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here Am I...Send me.”And he said, “Go...

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6:7-9‬ ‭

Nehemiah was saying, “Here am I, Lord...use me up for Your glory and the benefit of Your people. And, I’m reminded of another “someone” whose life message mirrors Nehemiah’s and Isaiah’s...“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Apostle Paul....“Here am I Lord...” pour me out”...” use me up”...” send me”...as a sacrificial offering for the sake of the believers in the Philippian church.

And guess what Paul said of Christ...Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant...humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:6-8‬ ‭

Nehemiah was willing to give himself away for his people. So was Isaiah and so was Paul.

Nehemiah was willing to work and fight for the good news of God. That He would restore the full of truth city...the beautiful holy city of Jerusalem on the mount of Zion!

It’s a great story...it’s the rest of the story...

Have a great day

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September 25th

Today’s bible reading is in Ezra chapters 7-10.

“And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel....

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭6:14-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“then Ezra...the second Moses by Jewish tradition 60yrs later went up from Babylonia.

Ezra was a direct descendent of the first high priest in Israel, Aaron, and the last high priest before the exile to Babylon, Seriah. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭7:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Everything else about Ezra is interesting, but the last thing mentioned is the main thing...“for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.”

And what did he do? He taught Israel the very words of God. More than any other man, Ezra’s teaching ministry stamped the people of Israel with its lasting monogram ...“as the people of the book”.

Scribes were more than just glorified secretaries. They were messengers of the will of God. They took the place of the prophets with one major difference: prophets were messengers of God’s new revelation to His people...ScrIbes explained and applied the old revelations of God to His people.

Of this order, Ezra was the founder of this type of messenger. Ezra would correspond to the churches’ elders, doing their best leading through their teaching of the word of God and applying it to the lives of the Christ-followers under their charge.

Remember what we read about Persia’s king showing favor toward Ezra by giving him all that he requested for his ministry in Israel. Certainly, the hand of God was upon Ezra.

“For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month, he came to Jerusalem. 3-4 months traveling 900 miles from Babylon to Jerusalem by way of the Euphrates River “for the good hand of his God was on him”. And Ezra gave God credit for his successful journey.

Now let us note the Godly intention of Ezra’s heart. .First, *Ezra set his heart to study the Law of the Lord. Second, *Ezra set his heart “to be a doer” of the Words of God. And Third, *Ezra set his heart “to teach” God’s statutes and laws in Israel.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭7:9-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What a Godly intention for every disciple of the Savior God Jesus...

1. To dedicate our hearts to study the Word of God personally.

2. To dedicate our hearts to obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit from the word of God.

3. To dedicate our hearts to teaching the words of God to others...explaining it and applying it to their lives.

All three together is “Christian discipleship” in an Old Testament nutshell. Preparing our hearts to disciple others by studying, obeying, and teaching the words of God. And Ezra was living that discipleship 450 years before Christ called His first disciples.

So when the apostle Paul was encouraging Pastor Timothy to learn the will of God, to do it, then teach it to others so that they can live it and teach it to others also. That wasn't brand new, was it?

Now enjoy the rest of Ezra’s story...

Have a great day

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September 24th

The Bible reading today is in Esther chapters 6-10.

When I read through the book of Esther, I certainly see Godly character (flawed, yes), but overall I see the righteous character of God in the life of Mordecai and his younger cousin, Esther.

For instance, Mordecai took responsibility for raising and caring for his orphaned cousin. He not only knew what God was expecting of him, He was determined to do it by God’s strength.

In Esther, I see a Godly truthfulness and courageousness that came forth for the benefit of others, even when it meant her own hurt. Yes, I see God’s righteousness in and through their lives, especially when the pressure was on.

As I read through the book of Esther, I see that it is more than a moral tale of how we must stand tall and firm in the midst of difficult circumstances. I see the foreshadowing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I see our need to totally depend on Jesus...“the intercessor/mediator", that Esther pictured in small measure, who stood in the gap for those who desperately needed saving like you and me.

Jesus our perfect intermediator. Our perfect intercessor who hung on a cross in our place, between heaven and hell, between righteousness and sinfulness, between judgment and mercy. He took hell and gave us heaven. He took our sinfulness and gave us His righteousness. He took our judgment and gave us God’s merciful salvation.

Yes, Esther played the intercessor for the Jewish people of her day. But Jesus, You are always better. Thank You!

There is one more thing that captures my attention in our reading of Esther chapters 1-10...God’s complete sovereignty over the affairs of life.

Hammon was a key figure in the court of Persian King, Ahasuerus. Hammon hated Mordecai and the nation of Israel. Hammon was out to hang Mordecai and totally destroy and annihilate the Jewish people across the world. Hammon persuaded the king to command his armies to make preparation for the murderous attacks on Jewish men, women, and children.

The slaughter was coming. Fear and panic seized the Jewish nation.

Was God wringing His hands in worry? No!!!

Did it cross His mind that the annihilation of his people would interfere with the lineage of the promised coming of the Messiah Jesus? No!!

Why not? Was it because He was counting on coincidence? Such as...A Jewess named Esther was chosen by the Persian king to be his queen...and it would be her Godly appeal to the king that would correspondingly save her cousin from the gallows and her Jewish countrymen from the bloody sword.

Was all of that just a coincidence? Did the planets just align themselves perfectly for all that to happen? No and No!

God Himself ordained and carried out everything that we read in Esther.

Why do I see it that way? Let’s listen to Solomon teaching his children and grandchildren...“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭

Throwing the dice...a game of chance...a game of random chance...And Solomon taught that God decided which number would come up!

What about the dust motes flying around my room...does God manage all those? Yes.

You've seen them as an early morning beam of light penetrates the darkness of your room. Thousands of them floating in the air. I agree with Spurgeon who taught his church that those dust particles move in their particular position in accordance with God’s appointment.

But is it just the proverbs that convince me that God designs and plans and carries them out upon the earth? No, it’s at the cross...“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:22-23‬ ‭

God designed and carried out just how His elect were to be saved from the penalty of their sins. Nothing about it was random. The prophets said the Christ was to suffer, and by his wounds we who believe Him are healed...eternally!

Have a great day

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September 23rd

Our bible reading today is in Esther chapters 1-5

“Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Mordecai and his younger cousin, Esther, were taken captive by the Persians when they defeated and took over the kingdom of Babylon. Apparently their parents died during the exile in Babylon and Mordecai became provider and protector of Esther.

When wicked King Ahasuerus got rid of his Persian wife, he ordered his servants to find him a new wife. They found Esther. And she became a lady in waiting inside the king’s harem.

Mordecai made a decision to hide his cousin’s identity from the Persians. He told Esther to pretend that she was Persian and never let anyone know that she was a Judean.

I'm sure that Mordecai was just trying to save her life. And I get it. But I am reminded of the words of Jesus to His disciples.

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:32-33‬ ‭

In our Esther reading we will learn that God used Esther’s change of heart later to save her people. But who is to say what God may have done earlier had she identified her self courageously as belonging to Yahweh.

Many Christians live like “undercover agents”, hiding their true identity as followers of Jesus.

Who is to say what God may do in our world if only we would faithfully and courageously and repeatedly identify ourselves with Jesus...Lord of Lords and King of Kings ...the crucified and resurrected Savior of sinners like us.

Esther was chosen by the king to be his next queen. Wonder how God was going to use her in her new position as Queen in Persia.

“Then Haman (the king’s counselor), said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom.

Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them.

If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed.....So....Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and to plunder their goods.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭3:8-9, 13‬ ‭

Wow, that was a terrible and most frightening edict for Jews in the kingdom of Persia, which was just short of worldwide.

“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.

Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the Jews’ destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. Esther replied to her cousin...“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death,except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:1, 5, 8, 11-14‬ ‭

And then Esther made her decision after time alone with her Lord.

“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf...I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:15-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

No more hiding for Esther. She would identify herself as a Jew. She would identify herself with the God of Israel. That would opennly put her under the same condemnation and annihilation as was every Jew in the world.

And her confession of faith before King Ahasuerus would also be dangerous. For if he were to refuse her request for an audience, it would mean immediate death...Queen or no Queen.

But did you hear her commitment? “If I perish, I perish...”

She was willing to publicly testify of her personal relationship with the Lord and her Jewish family...come what may...even death.

Bev and I would have many occasions over the years of raising our three children to use Esther’s story, especially to encourage them when they were afraid of a task they knew that they had to accomplish a hard thing. “Be brave...like Esther...go for it...trust God with the outcome!”

So what happened? Well, that’s the rest of the story.

Have a great day