Sometimes We Reap More Than We Sow

Today’s Reading – Esther 6 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 2 Corinthians 9 – 13, Psalms 16 – 20; Proverbs 4)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25

Read the “0604 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.” – (Esther 9:5 )

“But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,” – (Esther 9:16)

“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.” – (Esther 7:10)

In today’s reading we read about the destruction of Haman, his family, and all others who would try to hurt the people of God. Remember, in the previous chapters we read how that Haman had a carefully devised plan to have all of the Jews in the Kingdom of Persia put to death. He even built a special gallows to have Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, displayed on. His plan ended up destroying only him and his kind; and he ended up being hung on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. He not only got back what he gave to others, he got back far more than he gave. The lost world will reap far more in this life, and especially in eternity, what they have sown.

Christians today need to remember that the principle of sowing and reaping still exists. Thank the Lord as God’s children, because of His wonderful grace, we won’t reap nearly the amount of judgment as compared to the sin that we have sown; but we will reap some in this life. However, we can also reap back a lot of good if we sow it. As the people of God today, we should be concerned with sowing love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness to the people around us. I am sure that there will be times when we will want to have those things come back to us. And the beautiful thing is that the Christian will reap much more in eternity than what he has sown in this life. The Bible indicates that the rewards in heaven, and to some degree, even in this life, are multiplied exceedingly.


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Obsession

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Today’s Reading – Esther 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 2 Corinthians 5 – 8; Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 19

Read the “0603 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read a previous post from this passage – “It’s a God Thing

“Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” (Esther 5:13)

My attention this morning is turned toward Haman, a wicked lost man that was highest ranking prince in the administration of King Ahasuerus of Persia. This man had a prestigious position, second only to the king. According to the Book of Esther he had a family and friends. No doubt, he had wealth. It could easily be said that this man had all that any man could ask for. He was a rising star in the kingdom. Yet, none of that mattered to him, because he was consumed with hatred toward the Jewish people in general, and specifically toward Mordecai. All of the things that should have brought joy and happiness to this man were of no avail, because all that Haman could think about was Mordecai. He was obsessed, consumed with hatred and bitterness toward another human being. Stupid!

King Saul also comes to mind as another insecure man consumed with hatred and jealousy. Of course, his problem was with David, a young man who had done nothing but faithfully serve his king. Saul’s obsession with David became so acute, he spent all of Israel’s resources trying to find David to put him to death. What a shame!

Unfortunately, this type of situation is very prevalent among believers today. I have observed individuals who were also consumed with jealousy or bitterness toward another. Their entire life seemed to revolve around the object of their obsession. Their thoughts were filled with the person that they were bitter towards, and every conversation they had would eventually turn into a gossip session regarding their enemy. All of this served to rob them of the happiness that they should have been enjoying in an abundant life.

Christian, is there someone you just can’t stop thinking about (in a bad way)? Is there a person out there in the world that has become the object of your obsession? The bitterness that is growing inside of you towards that person will eventually destroy you, and make others around you miserable as well. Get a life! Release this obsession from the prison of your heart. Let them go. Forget about them. Don’t let anyone steal the joy that could be yours. It’s just not worth it. If you continue on in your obsession, you will surely end up being destroyed on the gallows that you intended to use on them.


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Just for Ladies – by Camille Stahl

Today’s Passage –Numbers 30 – 31 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Romans 13 – 16Proverbs 26Psalms 131 – 135

Scripture Memorization for January – Proverbs 4

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 55:17

Read “Professional Backslappers” by Pastor Paul Chappell

A STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

Esther, A Woman Who Risked Her Life For Others.

“And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.”     Esther 2:4-10)

Esther was a beautiful young Jewish woman, who was raised by her cousin.  Being taught under the law of God, it’s hard to image the task her cousin Mordecai asked her to do.  You see King Ahasuerus was displeased with his Queen and put her aside to seek out another.  Mordecai told Esther to stand with many other women in the land in hopes that the King would chose her in place of Queen Vashti.  Because Mordecai treated Esther as a daughter, she obeyed him.

In our mind we think, how could a young beautiful young woman of God, stand before a heathen married man, hoping to be picked to be his next wife?  But God had a plan unknown to her. and He was guiding her life.

“Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all of them that looked upon her. So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.”      (Esther 2:15-17)

King Ahasuerus knew nothing about Esther being a Jewish woman, because Mordecai told Esther to be silent in this matter.  Later Mordecai refused to bow down to the King’s highest nobleman, Haman.  Haman then plotted to rid himself of Mordecai and the Jewish people.  Mordecai told Esther of this plan and instructed her to go to the King.

“And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.”     (Esther 3:13)

She was now publicly identifying herself with her people.  She realized she was powerless without God.  Esther called her people to prayer and fasting.  The law was that no one could approach the King unless they were asked and she had not been called for some time.  But in spite of the law she said, “If I die, I die”.  The young Esther was willing to risk her position, her life, and her future for her people.

The heroine, who had saved the Jews by risking her own life, is remembered and highly respected by the Jewish nation even today.  She paved the way, unknown to her, for the coming of Christ.

God’s name is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but His hand on her life is apparent.  And so it will be with us: When we face trials, we can also trust He is working out something positive on our behalf.

Though becoming a King’s concubine may not have seemed good, God watched over Esther.  Even our most traumatic moments are also in God’s hands.  When we trust Him, nothing can go terribly wrong.

Obedient Esther acted on God’s will, gave in to her cousin’s wise counsel, and was safe.  Likewise, God protects us, especially when our faithfulness puts us in danger.  Will you trust Him no matter what?  Esther did.

Thank You

1 John 5:13


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Sometimes We Reap More Than We Sow

Today’s Passage – Esther 6 – 10

Second Milers also read – 2 Corinthians 13, Galatians 1 – 3; Psalms 16 – 20; Proverbs 4

Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1

“Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.” – (Esther 9:5 )

“But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,” – (Esther 9:16)

“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.” – (Esther 7:10)

In today’s reading we read about the destruction of Haman, his family, and all others who would try to hurt the people of God. Remember, in the previous chapters we read how that Haman had a carefully devised plan to have all of the Jews in the Kingdom of Persia put to death.  He even built a special gallows to have Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, displayed on.  His plan ended up destroying only him and his kind; and he ended up being hung on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.  He not only got back what  he gave to others, he got back far more than he gave. The lost world will reap far more in this life, and especially in eternity, what they have sown.

Christians today need to remember that the principle of sowing and reaping still exists.  Thank the Lord as God’s children, because of His wonderful grace, we won’t reap nearly the amount of judgment as compared to the sin that we have sown; but we will reap some in this life. However, we can also reap back a lot of good if we sow it.  As the people of God today, we should be concerned with sowing love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness to the people around us.  I am sure that there will be times when we will want to have those things come back to us. And the beutiful thing is that the Christian will reap much more in eternity what he has sown in this life. The Bible idicates that the rewards in heaven, and to some degree, even in this life, are multiplied exceedingly.


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It’s A “God Thing”

 

Today’s Passage – Esther 1 – 5

Second Milers also read – 2 Corinthians 9 – 12; Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3

 

“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13 – 14)

Esther was in a tough spot here, wasn’t she.  She had to risk the good thing she had going in order to confront the King regarding the impending destruction of her people, the Jews.  Mordecai reminded her that the very reason why God had placed her in this position was for this very purpose.  She had an opportunity given her by God to represent Him; to be His ambassador.

Did you ever find yourself in a situation where you knew that God had placed in a specific place at a specific time for a specific purpose?  There have been a few times like that in my life.  Sometimes I call them Divine appointments.  To think that the God of the universe has chosen you for a particular part of his plan.  It sends shivers down my spine. Sometimes, when something unexpected or even unpleasant comes your way, it could be that “it’s a God thing”. In other words God is positioning you to do something wonderful for Him. So be careful how you react to those negative situations that come your way.

I also wonder, though, how many times that God has strategically positioned me to fulfill His will, and I missed it.  Maybe, I just did not recognize the opportunity; maybe I was not sensitive enough to the leading of the Spirit of God; maybe I was just downright disobedient to His will.  I know that as I sit here this morning writing this thought, it is my desire to be used of God in these situations.  I want to be given more opportunities by my redeemer to represent Him on this earth.  It is my prayer that He will use me.


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Who Knows?

Today’s Passages – Esther 1-5; Proverbs 3

(Second Milers also read – 2 Corinthians 5 – 8; Memorize – Proverbs 13:3)

“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13 – 14)

Esther was in a tough spot here, wasn’t she.  She had to risk the good thing she had going in order to confront the King regarding the impending destruction of her people, the Jews.  Mordecai reminded her that the very reason why God had placed her in this position was for this very purpose.  She had an opportunity given her by God to represent Him; to be His ambassador.

Did you ever find yourself in a situation where you knew that God had placed in a specific place at a specific time for a specific purpose?  There have been a few times like that in my life.  Sometimes I call them Divine appointments.  To think that the God of the universe has chosen you for a particular part of his plan.  It sends shivers down my spine. Sometimes, when something unexpected or even unpleasant comes your way, it could be that “it’s a God thing”. In other words God is positioning you to do something wonderful for Him. So be careful how you react to those negative situations that come your way.

I also wonder, though, how many times that God has strategically positioned me to fulfill His will, and I missed it.  Maybe, I just did not recognize the opportunity; maybe I was not sensitive enough to the leading of the Spirit of God; maybe I was just downright disobedient to His will.  I know that as I sit here this morning writing this thought, it is my desire to be used of God in these situations.  I want to be given more opportunities by my redeemer to represent Him on this earth.  It is my prayer that He will use me.


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