The Thanksgiving holidays give us a reminder and an opportunity to be thankful to our God for who He is and for what He has done for us. I’ve been convicted this week that thanksgiving should be a greater part of my prayer life. It’s so easy to rush into my needs, rather than to be thankful. I’m reminded of the ten lepers who were healed and only one came back to thank Jesus for the miracle of healing.
An article in the Dallas Morning News also encouraged me to pray for those who may have needs in areas for which I am giving thanks. For example we daily thank God for the provision of food and that can be a reminder of those around us who are unable to provide food for their families. It also should remind us of those ministries who serve others by providing food for the hungry. Perhaps God may lead us to help one of those ministries in some way.
Perhaps the story of the lepers can remind us to be thankful for our health. Many around us are physically suffering and struggling with debilitating illnesses. These past few weeks my wife has struggled with her health and has been told she will contend with an immune deficiency the rest of her life. We are thankful for good medical care and that the diagnosis was not worse. We’ve been reminded anew of the need to pray especially for those we know who are struggling with debilitating diseases.
We read daily of strife around our world and are thankful that we live in a peaceful nation. Many in other countries such as Sudan, Iran, Israel, etc. live in physically dangerous situations and we should pray for them as well as those who are striving to help them obtain a peaceful existence.
As we thank God for our religious freedom we should regularly pray for those persecuted Christians around the world. We should also pray for those who earnestly seek to protect our freedom worship. Are you praying for missionaries you know who are taking the Gospel to these strife torn areas?
We also thank God for His provision in our life and are reminded of several we know who do not have jobs or are under employed. As we pray for them we should be sensitive to need we might help meet.
Finally, as we approach the Christmas season and the reminder of the birth of our Savior we should thank God for His love and willingness to send His Son to pay the price for our sins and provide an eternal life with Him.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Esther 17 - Characteristics of Strength and Dignity
I would like to close our study in the book of Esther by sharing with you some characteristics that Chuck Swindoll mentioned in his book on Esther. The first is that she exhibited a grace-filled charm and elegance. We first notice this when she was brought under the care of Hegai. We see that she pleased him and found favor with him. The literal translation of (2:9) is “she lifted up grace” before Hegai. We notice later that she won the favor of everyone who saw her (2:15).
The second characteristic we notice is that she lifted up unusual restraint and control. We also saw this trait exhibited in a couple of places. First, she did not reveal her identity. Secondly, when she revealed Haman’s plot, she waited until she felt the time was right to tell the king; the second banquet. She could keep a secret. As you develop close friendships that becomes especially important. If you can keep confidences, your friends will respect you much more. It is especially important to keep the confidences of your husband and family.
The third characteristic is that Esther maintained a continually teachable spirit. Some learn things easily and others are “hard learners”. It doesn’t mean that they are ignorant, but that they have a difficult time accepting counsel or learning lessons from experience. We learn in the book of Esther that she had a pattern of listening to Mordecai and accepting his counsel. She did the same with Hegai. Those who have experience and are wise can help you avoid some difficult and painful experiences if you will listen to their advice.
The fourth trait we see in Esther is that she exhibited an unselfish modesty and authenticity. Remember when her turn came to go into the king (2:12-15). She had the opportunity to take with her anything she desired. She took nothing except what Hegai suggested. This was the chance of a lifetime for her, but she does not succumb to the temptation around her; the superficiality, the selfishness, the seduction, the self-centeredness. Her life did not revolve around her physical appearance. Please don’t try to be someone you are not.
Next we see that Esther modeled a kind winsomeness, regardless of her surroundings. She found favor in the eyes of all who saw her (2:15), including the king (2:17). Winsomeness is being pleasant, delightful, attractive in an engaging way.
Finally, she displayed a respect for authority. Notice that even when she became queen (2:18-20) she remembered the wisdom of Mordecai and followed his counsel. There will always be those who have some authority over you. It is in your best interest to respect that authority.
I pray that these characteristics might describe you just as they described Esther.
The second characteristic we notice is that she lifted up unusual restraint and control. We also saw this trait exhibited in a couple of places. First, she did not reveal her identity. Secondly, when she revealed Haman’s plot, she waited until she felt the time was right to tell the king; the second banquet. She could keep a secret. As you develop close friendships that becomes especially important. If you can keep confidences, your friends will respect you much more. It is especially important to keep the confidences of your husband and family.
The third characteristic is that Esther maintained a continually teachable spirit. Some learn things easily and others are “hard learners”. It doesn’t mean that they are ignorant, but that they have a difficult time accepting counsel or learning lessons from experience. We learn in the book of Esther that she had a pattern of listening to Mordecai and accepting his counsel. She did the same with Hegai. Those who have experience and are wise can help you avoid some difficult and painful experiences if you will listen to their advice.
The fourth trait we see in Esther is that she exhibited an unselfish modesty and authenticity. Remember when her turn came to go into the king (2:12-15). She had the opportunity to take with her anything she desired. She took nothing except what Hegai suggested. This was the chance of a lifetime for her, but she does not succumb to the temptation around her; the superficiality, the selfishness, the seduction, the self-centeredness. Her life did not revolve around her physical appearance. Please don’t try to be someone you are not.
Next we see that Esther modeled a kind winsomeness, regardless of her surroundings. She found favor in the eyes of all who saw her (2:15), including the king (2:17). Winsomeness is being pleasant, delightful, attractive in an engaging way.
Finally, she displayed a respect for authority. Notice that even when she became queen (2:18-20) she remembered the wisdom of Mordecai and followed his counsel. There will always be those who have some authority over you. It is in your best interest to respect that authority.
I pray that these characteristics might describe you just as they described Esther.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Esther 16 - God's Timing
An important concept for us to remember is that God’s timing may not always be the same as ours. Most of us tend to get very impatient rather easily and sometimes it is easy to make demands on God as well as others that may not be in His perfect will.
Chuck Swindoll wrote a book on Esther and makes the comment that God lives and moves outside the realm of earthly time. He does this because He exists eternally. God instituted the concept of time for the convenience of humans, but He transcends it because He has no beginning and no end. It is critical that we never lose confidence in God.
Sometimes as we bring our requests to Him it seems that He is silent; that He does not answer. Nevertheless He is still at work in our lives. If we don’t believe this, during the times when we think He is silent we may panic, doubt, become cynical, resentful and even bitter at Him.
There are a couple of things we need to remember about the way God works. First, there are times when it seems He is silent and not responding. Secondly, the turning points of life, the significant events, are often subtle. A sensitive heart is required to detect those things. Remember that time in the book of Esther when the king could not sleep and by reading he remembered Mordecai had saved his life and then shortly after that Haman shows up in the court. This is a subtle, but very significant event in the story of Esther. Nothing is coincidental in the Christian life. Luck has no place in our vocabulary.
Esther had a sensitive heart and a sensitive ear. Remember she didn’t tell the king about her problem at the first banquet. I think she sensed the timing wasn’t right and created another opportunity by asking them to come back for a second banquet. Eccl. 3:1, 7 says “…there is a time for every event under heaven…a time to be silent, and a time to speak”.
You may go through some very tough periods in your life; most of us do. Remember that no barrier is too high, no chasm too wide for God. He is not limited by space or time, by the visible or the invisible. He lives in a realm that transcends all that. He is all powerful. God will have His way when He pleases and for His glory.
I urge you to be sensitive to God’s leading in your life. He may seem silent at times, but He is not absent. Listen for His voice. How do you do that? Study the Bible and pray. Listen to the counsel of those Christians who you know are mature and balanced believers. Remember that the workings of God are not related to our clocks; they are related to our crises. Don’t hesitate to come to God with your frustrations. Prayer can be very calming when there is a crisis in our lives. Remember He loves you and desires His best for you.
Chuck Swindoll wrote a book on Esther and makes the comment that God lives and moves outside the realm of earthly time. He does this because He exists eternally. God instituted the concept of time for the convenience of humans, but He transcends it because He has no beginning and no end. It is critical that we never lose confidence in God.
Sometimes as we bring our requests to Him it seems that He is silent; that He does not answer. Nevertheless He is still at work in our lives. If we don’t believe this, during the times when we think He is silent we may panic, doubt, become cynical, resentful and even bitter at Him.
There are a couple of things we need to remember about the way God works. First, there are times when it seems He is silent and not responding. Secondly, the turning points of life, the significant events, are often subtle. A sensitive heart is required to detect those things. Remember that time in the book of Esther when the king could not sleep and by reading he remembered Mordecai had saved his life and then shortly after that Haman shows up in the court. This is a subtle, but very significant event in the story of Esther. Nothing is coincidental in the Christian life. Luck has no place in our vocabulary.
Esther had a sensitive heart and a sensitive ear. Remember she didn’t tell the king about her problem at the first banquet. I think she sensed the timing wasn’t right and created another opportunity by asking them to come back for a second banquet. Eccl. 3:1, 7 says “…there is a time for every event under heaven…a time to be silent, and a time to speak”.
You may go through some very tough periods in your life; most of us do. Remember that no barrier is too high, no chasm too wide for God. He is not limited by space or time, by the visible or the invisible. He lives in a realm that transcends all that. He is all powerful. God will have His way when He pleases and for His glory.
I urge you to be sensitive to God’s leading in your life. He may seem silent at times, but He is not absent. Listen for His voice. How do you do that? Study the Bible and pray. Listen to the counsel of those Christians who you know are mature and balanced believers. Remember that the workings of God are not related to our clocks; they are related to our crises. Don’t hesitate to come to God with your frustrations. Prayer can be very calming when there is a crisis in our lives. Remember He loves you and desires His best for you.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Esther 15 - Do What is Right
The conflict between Mordecai and Haman presents a good lesson for us. It is apparent that at the beginning of the story Haman has been given much power from the king. He wanted people to bow before him and treat him as God. Mordecai refused to do this and Haman became very angry. Mordecai probably remembered the first commandment that God had given Moses in Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Mordecai’s refusal to bow before Haman led Haman to issue an edict that all the Jew’s should be killed. We know that God protected Mordecai and his people as later in the story Haman’s plot is exposed to the king and Haman is hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai. Mordecai is honored and actually receives from the king the power that Haman had.
In the middle of that story we see another incident. Mordecai learned that a couple of men were plotting to kill the king. He was able to get word to the king and these two men were caught and killed. That could have been a dangerous thing to do because if he had not been believed and they had not been punished, they may have attacked him.
I would like to remind you one more time of Esther’s actions as she exposed Haman’s plot to the king. She risked her life doing that and the consequences could have been severe.
Each of these situations bring out the point that we should do what is right and let God take care of the circumstances. You will be faced with many choices in life and will be tempted often to take the easy way out. My counsel to you is to pray about what God wants you to do in those situations and then have the courage to do what is right. You can be confidant of God’s protecting hand if you act in His will. He may allow testing to give you an opportunity to mature, but He will protect you through that testing. I’m reminded of I Cor. 10:13 which says “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
In the middle of that story we see another incident. Mordecai learned that a couple of men were plotting to kill the king. He was able to get word to the king and these two men were caught and killed. That could have been a dangerous thing to do because if he had not been believed and they had not been punished, they may have attacked him.
I would like to remind you one more time of Esther’s actions as she exposed Haman’s plot to the king. She risked her life doing that and the consequences could have been severe.
Each of these situations bring out the point that we should do what is right and let God take care of the circumstances. You will be faced with many choices in life and will be tempted often to take the easy way out. My counsel to you is to pray about what God wants you to do in those situations and then have the courage to do what is right. You can be confidant of God’s protecting hand if you act in His will. He may allow testing to give you an opportunity to mature, but He will protect you through that testing. I’m reminded of I Cor. 10:13 which says “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Esther 14 - Pride
Beginning with Esther 5:9 we learn about one of Haman’s characteristics; pride. We see in verse 11 that he boasted to his friends about his vast wealth, his sons, and his relationship with the king. In the next verse he bragged that he was the only person the Queen invited to join her and the king for dinner.
Pride is a feeling of superiority above others. God knew that we were going to have a problem with pride and he issued some warnings to us about that in His Word. In Proverbs 8:13 we are told “I hate pride and arrogance”. Proverbs 11:3 says “When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” In 13:10 we read “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” We are warned in 16:18 that “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” and finally in 29:23 “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor”.
You see, what God wants us to realize is that He created us and in ourselves we are nothing. In fact, although God made us perfect, we chose to disobey Him and sin entered into our lives. It is God’s desire that if we have any success in our lives we realize it is from Him. He wants us to have the humble heart of a servant. That attitude will allow us to be most useful to Him.
Isaiah does a good job of describing the attitude God desires. He says in 64:8 “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” The potter takes clay from the ground and molds it into useful and beautiful things. God wants to do that in each of our lives and will if we allow Him.
As God gives you success, never forget that He wants you to remain moldable. That attitude will bring joy and peace into your life.
Pride is a feeling of superiority above others. God knew that we were going to have a problem with pride and he issued some warnings to us about that in His Word. In Proverbs 8:13 we are told “I hate pride and arrogance”. Proverbs 11:3 says “When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” In 13:10 we read “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” We are warned in 16:18 that “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” and finally in 29:23 “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor”.
You see, what God wants us to realize is that He created us and in ourselves we are nothing. In fact, although God made us perfect, we chose to disobey Him and sin entered into our lives. It is God’s desire that if we have any success in our lives we realize it is from Him. He wants us to have the humble heart of a servant. That attitude will allow us to be most useful to Him.
Isaiah does a good job of describing the attitude God desires. He says in 64:8 “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” The potter takes clay from the ground and molds it into useful and beautiful things. God wants to do that in each of our lives and will if we allow Him.
As God gives you success, never forget that He wants you to remain moldable. That attitude will bring joy and peace into your life.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Esther 13 - God's Purpose for Your Life
I mentioned in the first devotional that God has a purpose for your life. The text I referred to was Esther 4:14. In Jeremiah 1:5 we read “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” I believe we can understand from this statement that God knows each one of us before we are born and has a plan for our lives.
I’m also reminded of Psalm 139:13-16 where David says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes say my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
When God made each one of us He gave us a will of our own and the ability to make decisions. He will not force His will on us. He will not force us to live our lives according to His perfect will. He wants us to make that decision on our own. As I mentioned earlier the first step in God’s plan is for us to trust the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior. At that point God places the Holy Spirit in our lives to guide and direct us if we allow Him to.
How do you learn God’s will for your life. The most critical element in this process is to keep a clean heart before Him. I John 1:9 says that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Any time we realize we have sinned we need to confess that to Him. It is also extremely important that you study the Bible on a daily basis. As you study God’s Word the Holy Spirit will work in your life to show you how to apply it at that particular time. He works through the study of His Word to help you see His plan for your life.
The third element is prayer. I believe there are two things to realize about prayer. First, it is important to have a daily concentrated time of prayer. In order to help me do that I keep a prayer list for each day of specific people or things I want to pray about. Secondly, in I Thessalonians 5:17 Paul tells us to “pray continually”. I believe he means that as we go about our day our relationship with God should be so that it is natural for us to quickly go to Him anytime something arises that we need His guidance or to praise Him for something that He does for us. Talking to God should be as natural as talking to anyone else.
I pray that you will continually seek God’s will for your life. As you do that you will accomplish God’s will for your life and will also be the most satisfied. Someone has said that we are most satisfied with God when He is most satisfied with us.
I’m also reminded of Psalm 139:13-16 where David says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes say my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
When God made each one of us He gave us a will of our own and the ability to make decisions. He will not force His will on us. He will not force us to live our lives according to His perfect will. He wants us to make that decision on our own. As I mentioned earlier the first step in God’s plan is for us to trust the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior. At that point God places the Holy Spirit in our lives to guide and direct us if we allow Him to.
How do you learn God’s will for your life. The most critical element in this process is to keep a clean heart before Him. I John 1:9 says that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Any time we realize we have sinned we need to confess that to Him. It is also extremely important that you study the Bible on a daily basis. As you study God’s Word the Holy Spirit will work in your life to show you how to apply it at that particular time. He works through the study of His Word to help you see His plan for your life.
The third element is prayer. I believe there are two things to realize about prayer. First, it is important to have a daily concentrated time of prayer. In order to help me do that I keep a prayer list for each day of specific people or things I want to pray about. Secondly, in I Thessalonians 5:17 Paul tells us to “pray continually”. I believe he means that as we go about our day our relationship with God should be so that it is natural for us to quickly go to Him anytime something arises that we need His guidance or to praise Him for something that He does for us. Talking to God should be as natural as talking to anyone else.
I pray that you will continually seek God’s will for your life. As you do that you will accomplish God’s will for your life and will also be the most satisfied. Someone has said that we are most satisfied with God when He is most satisfied with us.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Esther 12 - Listening to Elder’s Advice
We learned earlier that Esther was raised by her uncle Mordecai. We can see that she loved him because of her reaction to the report of Mordecai’s mourning in sackcloth. She sent clothes to him and when he would not accept them she sent someone again to find out what was wrong (4:4-5). As events unfolded Mordecai gave Esther some advice that was very difficult to follow. He asked her to risk her life by going to the king to plead for the safety of the Jews.
There are actually a couple of reasons for her to be concerned. First, even though she was the king’s wife, in that culture she was not allowed to approach the king unless he summoned her. If she approached him and was not welcome it would not have been unusual for the king to order her killed. Secondly, in order for her to do what Mordecai requested she would have to reveal her identity. Apparently the king nor anyone else knew that she was a Jewess. When the king learned about that it could have made him very upset.
As the story continues we learn that Esther listened to Mordecai’s advice but did not immediately approach the king. She reveals an element of maturity by asking Mordecai and all the Jews to fast with her for three days. I believe she spent this time earnestly praying to God seeking His guidance because what Mordecai had asked her to do was unusual and dangerous. After doing this she went to the king and we know that he received her and granted her wish.
A lesson for us in this story is that we should listen to the advice of the elders we respect and trust. We should keep in mind that others may have more life experiences than we do. Parents and grandparents can often offer wise counsel. Your pastor is always someone you should be able to turn to for good advice. It will be easy to think that your elders don’t understand your culture and for that reason you shouldn’t listen to them. They may not have encountered the specific situation you do, but they have been in similar circumstances and they may well know what is best for you. It will be to your benefit to heed their advice as you seek God’s guidance in your life
There are actually a couple of reasons for her to be concerned. First, even though she was the king’s wife, in that culture she was not allowed to approach the king unless he summoned her. If she approached him and was not welcome it would not have been unusual for the king to order her killed. Secondly, in order for her to do what Mordecai requested she would have to reveal her identity. Apparently the king nor anyone else knew that she was a Jewess. When the king learned about that it could have made him very upset.
As the story continues we learn that Esther listened to Mordecai’s advice but did not immediately approach the king. She reveals an element of maturity by asking Mordecai and all the Jews to fast with her for three days. I believe she spent this time earnestly praying to God seeking His guidance because what Mordecai had asked her to do was unusual and dangerous. After doing this she went to the king and we know that he received her and granted her wish.
A lesson for us in this story is that we should listen to the advice of the elders we respect and trust. We should keep in mind that others may have more life experiences than we do. Parents and grandparents can often offer wise counsel. Your pastor is always someone you should be able to turn to for good advice. It will be easy to think that your elders don’t understand your culture and for that reason you shouldn’t listen to them. They may not have encountered the specific situation you do, but they have been in similar circumstances and they may well know what is best for you. It will be to your benefit to heed their advice as you seek God’s guidance in your life
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Esther 11 - Obedience
The subject of obedience comes up several times in the book of Esther. We first see that Vashti was disobedient to her husband’s order to come show her beauty to all the men. As a result of that she was deposed as queen, was divorced, and caused an order to be issued by the king that was proclaimed throughout all the kingdom so that all women would respect their husbands (1:20).
In chapter three we see Haman introduced as an Agagite. Agagite is another word for Amalekite. We are introduced to the Amalekites in Ex. 17 when Moses battled them. It is a famous story because Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of a hill during the battle and as long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites won the battle, but whenever he lowered his hands the Amalekites prevailed. Aaron and Hur helped him hold up his hands and the Israelites won. God then vowed that He would completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven.
God chose to do that when Saul was king of Israel. In I Samuel 15 He told Saul to “attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys”. Saul disobeyed by deciding to spare the king, Agag, and also spared the best of the sheep and cattle”. Because of Saul’s disobedience, the Agagites are now causing the Jews trouble.
In Esther 3:3 we noticed that Mordecai disobeyed the king’s command to bow before Haman. Mordecai refused to do this because God was the only one to whom He should bow down. It wasn’t a matter of showing respect, but of worshiping. The Bible tells us we should respect and pray for our government leaders and should be obedient to the laws unless those laws cause us to violate God’s Word. His Word tells us that we should have no other Gods and that is what Haman was trying to accomplish.
We discussed earlier the consequences of Queen Vashti’s disobedience. That instance shows us that there can be consequences for doing what is right. Saul’s action of disobedience to God was wrong and we see the results of that disobedience. Mordecai was right and God honored that decision. As you have read the book of Esther you realize that Mordecai had been obedient to the other laws of the land and actually alerted the king of a threat on his life. At the end of the book we see that Mordecai is honored by the king.
We have also discussed how Esther was obedient to Mordecai’s request to go to the king to expose the danger to her people. From these instances we can learn that it is best to obey our elders and others in authority. As you are tempted not to do that, remember the consequences can be bad for you. Obedience to God is of primary importance in our lives.
In chapter three we see Haman introduced as an Agagite. Agagite is another word for Amalekite. We are introduced to the Amalekites in Ex. 17 when Moses battled them. It is a famous story because Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of a hill during the battle and as long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites won the battle, but whenever he lowered his hands the Amalekites prevailed. Aaron and Hur helped him hold up his hands and the Israelites won. God then vowed that He would completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven.
God chose to do that when Saul was king of Israel. In I Samuel 15 He told Saul to “attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys”. Saul disobeyed by deciding to spare the king, Agag, and also spared the best of the sheep and cattle”. Because of Saul’s disobedience, the Agagites are now causing the Jews trouble.
In Esther 3:3 we noticed that Mordecai disobeyed the king’s command to bow before Haman. Mordecai refused to do this because God was the only one to whom He should bow down. It wasn’t a matter of showing respect, but of worshiping. The Bible tells us we should respect and pray for our government leaders and should be obedient to the laws unless those laws cause us to violate God’s Word. His Word tells us that we should have no other Gods and that is what Haman was trying to accomplish.
We discussed earlier the consequences of Queen Vashti’s disobedience. That instance shows us that there can be consequences for doing what is right. Saul’s action of disobedience to God was wrong and we see the results of that disobedience. Mordecai was right and God honored that decision. As you have read the book of Esther you realize that Mordecai had been obedient to the other laws of the land and actually alerted the king of a threat on his life. At the end of the book we see that Mordecai is honored by the king.
We have also discussed how Esther was obedient to Mordecai’s request to go to the king to expose the danger to her people. From these instances we can learn that it is best to obey our elders and others in authority. As you are tempted not to do that, remember the consequences can be bad for you. Obedience to God is of primary importance in our lives.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Esther 10 - Natural Beauty
As Esther is introduced in 2:7 we are told that she “was lovely in form and features”. I take that to mean she was a beautiful young lady. We learn in verse 13 that when the ladies were to go to see the king they were given permission to take anything they wanted from the king’s harem with them. I take from this statement they were given their choice of clothes, jewelry, perfume, etc. It is interesting that she took nothing other than what the person in charge suggested.
While we may think of our outward appearance, natural beauty includes our inner being, our personality. God has given you a personality that you are continually developing. That personality begins to emerge at a very young age and is continually influenced by life events and those around us. As you develop relationships think about the personality of those you choose as friends. They will have a significant impact on your life. Peer pressure is extremely strong and you should choose friends who are helpful to you rather than harmful.
I’m reminded of the verse in I Cor. 6:19 that tells us that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…” It is important that we take good care of the bodies that God has given us. There are many ways that we can abuse our body. One is not eating right; eating too much, too little or the wrong things. In our culture many abuse their minds and bodies by using drugs. Drugs are an artificial stimulant that may make you feel good for a while, but have serious negative consequences.
Another way to abuse our body is not getting enough rest. We should get enough physical exercise so that our body will function properly, but we should also get enough physical, mental and spiritual rest.
I’m reminded of Psalm 139:14 that says “I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” I don’t know what your temptations may be but please never forget that as a Christian your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
While we may think of our outward appearance, natural beauty includes our inner being, our personality. God has given you a personality that you are continually developing. That personality begins to emerge at a very young age and is continually influenced by life events and those around us. As you develop relationships think about the personality of those you choose as friends. They will have a significant impact on your life. Peer pressure is extremely strong and you should choose friends who are helpful to you rather than harmful.
I’m reminded of the verse in I Cor. 6:19 that tells us that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…” It is important that we take good care of the bodies that God has given us. There are many ways that we can abuse our body. One is not eating right; eating too much, too little or the wrong things. In our culture many abuse their minds and bodies by using drugs. Drugs are an artificial stimulant that may make you feel good for a while, but have serious negative consequences.
Another way to abuse our body is not getting enough rest. We should get enough physical exercise so that our body will function properly, but we should also get enough physical, mental and spiritual rest.
I’m reminded of Psalm 139:14 that says “I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” I don’t know what your temptations may be but please never forget that as a Christian your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Esther 9 - Divorce
In Esther 1:19 we learn that the king had a decree written that Vashti is never again to enter into the presence of King Xerxes. In other words he divorced her. The Bible has much to say to Christians about divorce. In Malachi 2:16 God tells us he hates divorce.
Jesus teaches about divorce in Matt. 19 in response to a question from the Pharisees. He reminds us in verse 5 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Later in that passage He says “anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Paul also teaches about divorce in I Cor. 7. In verse 10 he says “A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”
These passages tell us that marriage is a lifetime commitment and therefore a very important decision. I’m convinced that God has chosen a mate for each one of us and in His time He will lead us to that person. I think God’s hand was very evident in bringing our children and their spouses together as well as Betty and myself. When God leads the Christian to that person you have His peace in knowing that he/she is God’s choice of a mate for you. Until you have that peace, you must resist the temptation to enter into the relationship of marriage with anyone.
Since God is the one that places us together and He does not make mistakes, there is no reason for divorce. When couples get into severe disagreement and begin to contemplate divorce it is because their relationship with Jesus Christ is not what it should be. Once each of their relationships with Jesus is where it should be the difficulties between them begin to fade. When you get married it is important to study the Bible together and to pray together. This practice should be a high priority in your life. When you have disagreements don’t keep them from each other, but talk about them and pray about them until you can find resolution.
Next to your decision to trust Jesus as your personal Savior, your choice of a mate is the most important decision you will make.
Jesus teaches about divorce in Matt. 19 in response to a question from the Pharisees. He reminds us in verse 5 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Later in that passage He says “anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Paul also teaches about divorce in I Cor. 7. In verse 10 he says “A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”
These passages tell us that marriage is a lifetime commitment and therefore a very important decision. I’m convinced that God has chosen a mate for each one of us and in His time He will lead us to that person. I think God’s hand was very evident in bringing our children and their spouses together as well as Betty and myself. When God leads the Christian to that person you have His peace in knowing that he/she is God’s choice of a mate for you. Until you have that peace, you must resist the temptation to enter into the relationship of marriage with anyone.
Since God is the one that places us together and He does not make mistakes, there is no reason for divorce. When couples get into severe disagreement and begin to contemplate divorce it is because their relationship with Jesus Christ is not what it should be. Once each of their relationships with Jesus is where it should be the difficulties between them begin to fade. When you get married it is important to study the Bible together and to pray together. This practice should be a high priority in your life. When you have disagreements don’t keep them from each other, but talk about them and pray about them until you can find resolution.
Next to your decision to trust Jesus as your personal Savior, your choice of a mate is the most important decision you will make.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Esther 8 - Finding A Life Mate
In chapter 2 of Esther we see the king makes a decision to find a new wife. There is actually a considerable length of time between chapter 1 and 2 and the king and his army has been soundly defeated in a war. He has returned home and now realizes the loneliness of being without a mate.
The king’s advisors suggested that “beautiful young virgins” from throughout the kingdom be brought into his harem and he would chose one that pleased him. In 2:14 we learned that a young lady would go in with the king in the evening and leave in the morning and she would not go in again unless the “king delighted in her”. This passage suggests that the king was only interested in the physical attributes of the ladies and is certainly not the way God wants us to choose a mate.
Actually, God has chosen a mate for each of us who He desires to be married. It is our responsibility to seek His direction until He reveals that person to us. First, as Christians, we can be sure that God does not want us to marry someone who does not know Jesus as their personal Savior. II Cor. 6:14 says “do not be yoked together with unbelievers”.
There are a couple of passages in the New Testament that tells a woman what to look for in a husband. Eph. 5:25 says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. That statement has deep meaning when we reflect on the fact that Christ loved us so much He was willing to die for us. Later it also says that the “man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Your husband must be willing for you to become the most important person in his life other than Jesus Christ. I Peter 3:7 says that husbands should be considerate as they live with their wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs of the gracious gift of life. I think that being considerate means to honor.
Both of these passages speak of the wife being “submissive”. I think that means she should respect her husband and allow him to be the family leader. Ephesians compares that leadership to Christ’s leadership of the church. I Peter speaks of the wife having a “gentle and quiet spirit”.
If God has led you to your life-mate, thank Him every day for that and pray faithfully for him/her each day.
The king’s advisors suggested that “beautiful young virgins” from throughout the kingdom be brought into his harem and he would chose one that pleased him. In 2:14 we learned that a young lady would go in with the king in the evening and leave in the morning and she would not go in again unless the “king delighted in her”. This passage suggests that the king was only interested in the physical attributes of the ladies and is certainly not the way God wants us to choose a mate.
Actually, God has chosen a mate for each of us who He desires to be married. It is our responsibility to seek His direction until He reveals that person to us. First, as Christians, we can be sure that God does not want us to marry someone who does not know Jesus as their personal Savior. II Cor. 6:14 says “do not be yoked together with unbelievers”.
There are a couple of passages in the New Testament that tells a woman what to look for in a husband. Eph. 5:25 says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. That statement has deep meaning when we reflect on the fact that Christ loved us so much He was willing to die for us. Later it also says that the “man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Your husband must be willing for you to become the most important person in his life other than Jesus Christ. I Peter 3:7 says that husbands should be considerate as they live with their wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs of the gracious gift of life. I think that being considerate means to honor.
Both of these passages speak of the wife being “submissive”. I think that means she should respect her husband and allow him to be the family leader. Ephesians compares that leadership to Christ’s leadership of the church. I Peter speaks of the wife having a “gentle and quiet spirit”.
If God has led you to your life-mate, thank Him every day for that and pray faithfully for him/her each day.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Esther 5 - Anger
Anger is an emotion we see expressed many times in the book of Esther. The king became angry when his wife, Vashti, did not obey him and he divorced her. Haman became angry when Mordecai refused to bow down to him and plotted not only to kill Mordecai, but to wipe out all the Jews. The king became angry at Haman when Esther exposed Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews.
It is an emotion that we all have and one that can cause us harm. There is also a proper time for anger. Ephesians 4:26 says “Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Probably the most famous example of righteous anger is expressed by Christ in Matt. 21:12. He became very upset at some things that were being done in God’s temple and “cast out all who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the table of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves.”
It is important that you not stay angry because it is an emotion that can be more destructive to you than to anyone else. While it may hurt others, it tears you up inside. Forgiveness cleanses you and makes you feel better inside. If you become angry with someone, it is usually best to forgive them quickly and also to ask God to forgive you.
Anger is an emotion we all express. It may be directed toward many sources including friends, relatives, our government, or a stranger in a traffic situation.
You may get mad at God, because your life isn’t going the way you want it to. Remember that God loves you and desires the best for you and “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).”
My caution is that you not let anger become a dominant character trait in your life. When you do get angry take definite action to get over it quickly.
It is an emotion that we all have and one that can cause us harm. There is also a proper time for anger. Ephesians 4:26 says “Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Probably the most famous example of righteous anger is expressed by Christ in Matt. 21:12. He became very upset at some things that were being done in God’s temple and “cast out all who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the table of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves.”
It is important that you not stay angry because it is an emotion that can be more destructive to you than to anyone else. While it may hurt others, it tears you up inside. Forgiveness cleanses you and makes you feel better inside. If you become angry with someone, it is usually best to forgive them quickly and also to ask God to forgive you.
The book of Proverbs gives us some good cautions about anger:
Proverbs 14:17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly…
Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
Proverbs 19:19 A man of great anger shall bear the penalty, for if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
Proverbs 25:11 A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back
Proverbs 30:33 The churning of anger produces strife
Anger is an emotion we all express. It may be directed toward many sources including friends, relatives, our government, or a stranger in a traffic situation.
You may get mad at God, because your life isn’t going the way you want it to. Remember that God loves you and desires the best for you and “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).”
My caution is that you not let anger become a dominant character trait in your life. When you do get angry take definite action to get over it quickly.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Esther 4 - Man's Responsiblity
Although God is sovereign, He has given man a free will and the intelligence to make decisions. We have the choice of obeying or disobeying Him. We talked earlier about recognizing who God is and accepting Him as our Savior. Our decisions and choices don’t end there. Even as Christians we make daily choices to obey Him or disobey Him. God never forces His will upon us, but He wants us to be obedient. In I Samuel 15:23 He spoke through the prophet to Saul “to obey is better than sacrifice”.
You may say I want to be obedient but I don’t know what to do. I’m reminded that when Jesus was asked what are the greatest commandments He replied “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matt 22:37; Deut. 6:5).” He went on to say “and a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39; Lev. 19:18).”
In John 15:9-17 Jesus teaches more about love. First He tells us He loves us just as the Father loves Him. Then He explains that if we obey His commandments we will remain in His love and as we do that our joy will be complete. We are to love each other as Jesus loves us. Then He explains the extent of His love by saying “Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” Love means “desiring the best” and Jesus knew that the best possible thing for us was to be able to spend eternity with Him. He loved us so much that He was willing to pay for our sins by dying on the cross so that we might have eternal life. Think of how much God loved us when He was willing to send His only son, Jesus to the earth to pay that awful price.
We show our love for Him by being obedient to Him. A part of that obedience is studying His Word and acting on what we learn. Another part is praying to Him on a continual basis. Jesus knew however that since we have a mind of our own we, at times, will be disobedient. He provided a way for us to return to a right relationship with Him. He tells us in I John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Each time we recognize that we have sinned we need to ask for forgiveness and claim that verse.
Esther had a choice to make. Mordecai had requested that she go to the king. Notice that he said in 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place…” I think this passage says that God’s will is going to be accomplished whether or not we obey Him. We have the privilege of being obedient and receiving the blessing of carrying out His will. If we don’t we will miss the blessing but His will is still going to be accomplished.
Notice Esther’s response. She asked Mordecai to get all the Jews together and fast for three days and indicated that she and her maids would do the same. The primary purpose of fasting is to give complete attention to God so that you may determine His will. Esther was willing to risk her life and go to the king, but she wanted to make sure that was God’s will and also wanted to ask for His protection and leading as she went.
You may say I want to be obedient but I don’t know what to do. I’m reminded that when Jesus was asked what are the greatest commandments He replied “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matt 22:37; Deut. 6:5).” He went on to say “and a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39; Lev. 19:18).”
In John 15:9-17 Jesus teaches more about love. First He tells us He loves us just as the Father loves Him. Then He explains that if we obey His commandments we will remain in His love and as we do that our joy will be complete. We are to love each other as Jesus loves us. Then He explains the extent of His love by saying “Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” Love means “desiring the best” and Jesus knew that the best possible thing for us was to be able to spend eternity with Him. He loved us so much that He was willing to pay for our sins by dying on the cross so that we might have eternal life. Think of how much God loved us when He was willing to send His only son, Jesus to the earth to pay that awful price.
We show our love for Him by being obedient to Him. A part of that obedience is studying His Word and acting on what we learn. Another part is praying to Him on a continual basis. Jesus knew however that since we have a mind of our own we, at times, will be disobedient. He provided a way for us to return to a right relationship with Him. He tells us in I John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Each time we recognize that we have sinned we need to ask for forgiveness and claim that verse.
Esther had a choice to make. Mordecai had requested that she go to the king. Notice that he said in 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place…” I think this passage says that God’s will is going to be accomplished whether or not we obey Him. We have the privilege of being obedient and receiving the blessing of carrying out His will. If we don’t we will miss the blessing but His will is still going to be accomplished.
Notice Esther’s response. She asked Mordecai to get all the Jews together and fast for three days and indicated that she and her maids would do the same. The primary purpose of fasting is to give complete attention to God so that you may determine His will. Esther was willing to risk her life and go to the king, but she wanted to make sure that was God’s will and also wanted to ask for His protection and leading as she went.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Esther 3 - God's Sovereignty
One of the primary themes in the book of Esther is the sovereignty or providence of God. Although we don’t see God’s name mentioned we see him working quietly in the lives of people to accomplish His will. Sovereignty means that God is in complete control and that His will is going to be accomplished regardless of our actions. He works in the lives of those who don’t know Him as well as those who do to accomplish His will. As Christians God gives us the opportunity to participate in carrying out His will, but if we choose not to do so, someone else will. We simply miss the blessing that we would have attained had we obeyed God. God’s will is not frustrated by our lack of obedience.
Let’s look at several places in Esther where we can see God’s providence in action. The first place that I notice it is when Queen Vashti is removed as Queen (1:10f). We talked earlier about her refusal to obey the king. It is because of her removal as queen that Esther had the opportunity to gain a place of prominence so that she can be the tool that God uses to protect His people, the Jews.
We see several instances of God’s sovereignty in the second chapter. First when Esther was taken into the king’s palace, she found favor with Hegai (2:8), the individual responsible for those to be considered to be the queen. Because of this she was given the best place in the harem and most likely the best opportunity to impress the king. Secondly, she did not make known her nationality. Had her nationality become public, she most likely would not have been chosen queen. This step is unusual because the Jewish people are proud of their heritage and usually make it known. In verse 17 we see that the king loved Esther more than any of the other women. Certainly this was God working in the heart of the king so that Esther could be in this place of responsibility. In verse 21 Mordecai hears of a plot to kill the king which leads to the traitors being arrested and killed and the instance written in the kings book of records. Later the king reads about this and Mordecai is honored just when Haman wanted to put him to death.
In 3:7 lots are being cast to determine when the king’s order to kill all the Jews is to be carried out. The date that is selected is almost a year away, so that the events we read about in the rest of the book have time to take place and the Jews are not killed.
We mentioned earlier Esther 4:14. Here Mordecai explains that Esther has an opportunity to save her people but that if she doesn’t do it, God will find another way to carry out His plan for His people. God has influenced events so that she is in a place to mold the will of the king. It is her responsibility simply to be faithful.
The fifth chapter also contains several instances of God’s sovereignty. First we see that when Esther approaches the king she finds favor with him. She actually placed her life on the line in doing this and God had prepared the king’s heart so that he welcomed her. In verse 14 we see Haman having gallows prepared for Mordecai and subsequently they are used to hang Haman.
Let’s look at several places in Esther where we can see God’s providence in action. The first place that I notice it is when Queen Vashti is removed as Queen (1:10f). We talked earlier about her refusal to obey the king. It is because of her removal as queen that Esther had the opportunity to gain a place of prominence so that she can be the tool that God uses to protect His people, the Jews.
We see several instances of God’s sovereignty in the second chapter. First when Esther was taken into the king’s palace, she found favor with Hegai (2:8), the individual responsible for those to be considered to be the queen. Because of this she was given the best place in the harem and most likely the best opportunity to impress the king. Secondly, she did not make known her nationality. Had her nationality become public, she most likely would not have been chosen queen. This step is unusual because the Jewish people are proud of their heritage and usually make it known. In verse 17 we see that the king loved Esther more than any of the other women. Certainly this was God working in the heart of the king so that Esther could be in this place of responsibility. In verse 21 Mordecai hears of a plot to kill the king which leads to the traitors being arrested and killed and the instance written in the kings book of records. Later the king reads about this and Mordecai is honored just when Haman wanted to put him to death.
In 3:7 lots are being cast to determine when the king’s order to kill all the Jews is to be carried out. The date that is selected is almost a year away, so that the events we read about in the rest of the book have time to take place and the Jews are not killed.
We mentioned earlier Esther 4:14. Here Mordecai explains that Esther has an opportunity to save her people but that if she doesn’t do it, God will find another way to carry out His plan for His people. God has influenced events so that she is in a place to mold the will of the king. It is her responsibility simply to be faithful.
The fifth chapter also contains several instances of God’s sovereignty. First we see that when Esther approaches the king she finds favor with him. She actually placed her life on the line in doing this and God had prepared the king’s heart so that he welcomed her. In verse 14 we see Haman having gallows prepared for Mordecai and subsequently they are used to hang Haman.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Esther 2 - Compromising Integrity
In Esther 1:9 we meet Vashti. She was the Queen of Persia and was giving a banquet for the ladies at the same time the king was giving a banquet for the men. At that time Persia was the largest kingdom in the world, including 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. This banquet had gone on for seven days and earlier verses tell us that quite a bit of drinking was going on. In 1:10 we see that when the king was “merry with wine” (in other words drunk) he commanded the queen to come before all the men “in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful.” There is not a reason mentioned as to why he did this, but we can guess that his intentions were not honorable.
We learn early in life that boys and men are at least initially attracted to girls and women by the way they appear. In my opinion too much stress is placed on the outward appearance. There is much more to a relationship than physical appearance, but many relationships seem to be built on that. We see television shows and movies where that appears to be the prime factor in a relationship. As you develop relationships I encourage you to do that based on the character of the people you meet rather than their outward appearance.
In verse 12 we see that Queen Vashti refused to come. She must have been aware of the potential consequence of her actions which could have included death. No one disobeyed the king’s command. One of the most important things we can learn from her is that she was not willing to compromise her integrity. She recognized the king simply wanted to treat her as an ornament or sexual object and was not willing to allow him to do that. The king’s request was very unusual in that culture because women did not allow themselves to be seen in public. She was brave, courageous and willing to take a stand.
You will face times in your life when you need to take a stand; when you know you should say “no”. There will be tremendous pressure to give in and say “yes”. That pressure may come from someone else or it may come from within your-self. When those times come I urge you to do what is right, regardless of what you think might happen. I can guarantee you that God will honor that decision. Each time you do that you will be strengthened and the next time the situation arises it will be easier to say “no”. However, if you give in once, it becomes extremely difficult to say “no” the next time.
As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we develop convictions as to how God would have us live them. I pray you will remain true to those convictions regardless of the situation you face.
We learn early in life that boys and men are at least initially attracted to girls and women by the way they appear. In my opinion too much stress is placed on the outward appearance. There is much more to a relationship than physical appearance, but many relationships seem to be built on that. We see television shows and movies where that appears to be the prime factor in a relationship. As you develop relationships I encourage you to do that based on the character of the people you meet rather than their outward appearance.
In verse 12 we see that Queen Vashti refused to come. She must have been aware of the potential consequence of her actions which could have included death. No one disobeyed the king’s command. One of the most important things we can learn from her is that she was not willing to compromise her integrity. She recognized the king simply wanted to treat her as an ornament or sexual object and was not willing to allow him to do that. The king’s request was very unusual in that culture because women did not allow themselves to be seen in public. She was brave, courageous and willing to take a stand.
You will face times in your life when you need to take a stand; when you know you should say “no”. There will be tremendous pressure to give in and say “yes”. That pressure may come from someone else or it may come from within your-self. When those times come I urge you to do what is right, regardless of what you think might happen. I can guarantee you that God will honor that decision. Each time you do that you will be strengthened and the next time the situation arises it will be easier to say “no”. However, if you give in once, it becomes extremely difficult to say “no” the next time.
As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we develop convictions as to how God would have us live them. I pray you will remain true to those convictions regardless of the situation you face.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Esther 1 - Esther Introduction
Today we will begin a short study of the book of Esther. I had only casually read the book until I was asked several years ago to lead a group of ladies in our office in a Bible study. I really benefited from digging more deeply into the book and my prayer is that you will also.
Blessings,
Joe
Blessings,
Joe
Esther Introduction
I have chosen to share with you some thoughts from the book of Esther. It is the only book in the Bible in which God’s name is not mentioned and neither is prayer. Esther is not quoted at all in the New Testament. Yet, it is very practical from the perspective that it reveals how God works in our lives each day to accomplish His purpose. He works not only in the lives of Christians, but in the lives of non-Christians to carry out His will.
Probably the most well-known verse in the book is 4:14 where Mordecai says to Esther “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
We can learn much from this verse and one of the most important lessons is that God has a purpose and a plan for each one of us. He usually reveals His plan one step at a time and as we follow His leading we accomplish His purpose. Although I don’t know God’s plan for your life, I do know the first step He wants you to take; that is to trust Him as your personal Savior.
God’s Word tells us in Romans 3:23 that we “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” We are all born with a sin nature and because of that are separated from God. Romans 6:23 explains that “the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.” Because God is holy and just He cannot tolerate sin, but because He loves us He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him and to spend eternity with Him. In Romans 5:8 we learn that “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s love was so great that He was willing to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to pay the price for our sins by dying on the cross so that we might have eternal life. Jesus rose from the grave only three days after He died and is now in heaven preparing a place for those who trust Him as Savior so that we may spend eternity with him.
The critical question is how do we obtain that salvation. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Ephesians 2:8-9 states “for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Finally, John 5:24 assures us that our future is secure “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
I made the decision to trust Jesus as my Savior when I was 12 years old; over 60 years ago. I have never regretted taking that step and encourage you to do the same if you have not previously done so. I know that I am going to spend eternity in heaven with God and I have a strong desire for you to do the same.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ
Philippians 3:7-8
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things, I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.”
Paul is speaking here of the transformation that occurred in his life on the Damascus road. As he reflects on that experience he now understands that all he accomplished before then was rubbish and exhibited confidence in the flesh. Now his confidence is in Christ alone.
I am particularly impressed by the phrase “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord”. The privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as his Savior and Lord is the greatest thing he has ever experienced. In fact, it so far surpasses everything else that all other accomplishments are considered rubbish.
From all we know of Paul he maintained the freshness of that experience throughout his life. Although he went through many trials and testings he never seemed to become discouraged and I’m convinced it was because he kept his heart centered on the person of Christ. It is easy to let the busyness and temptations of the day drag us down and discourage us. Satan makes every attempt to minimize or impair the Christian’s relationship to Christ. He delights in helping us get caught up in the things of the world.
As we grow spiritually the material things of the world become less important to us. Our earthly accomplishments become secondary to our spiritual growth and our walk with Christ. The activities and events that cause us to grow spiritually become more important than any of the worldly things in which we are involved.
I encourage you to meditate on the impact of that phrase in your life.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
A Model of Discipleship
Philippians 2:22
“But you know of his (Timothy) proven worth that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.”
Timothy provides for us a model of discipleship. Paul wrote two letters to him that are a part of our Bible and they provide good insight into his character. Paul must have met him as a young man and developed a deep relationship with him. We see in II Tim. 1:2 he calls him “my beloved son”. Timothy traveled with Paul to some extent and was obviously with him when Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians (Phil. 2:19).
There are three characteristics we can note about Timothy. First he and Paul had a kindred spirit. That is probably what drew them to each other. As you go through life you will meet many friends and casual acquaintances, but few who really think like you, react to situations like you; someone you don’t have to work hard to have a relationship with. That person understands your motives and needs without them being expressed. I believe another Biblical relationship like this existed between David and Jonathan. These are valuable relationships and I urge you to carefully develop them.
Secondly, Timothy had a genuine concern for others. He was not like those mentioned in the previous verse that “seek after their own interest”. He really regarded others as more important than himself (Phil 2:3-4).
Finally, Timothy had a servant’s heart. We can see that in our verse today as Paul said he “served with me…like a child serving his father.” Although we see Paul as a very strong character, I believe he also had a servant’s heart after his salvation. He was so concerned about the welfare of others he was willing to give his own life on their behalf.
The world we live in today doesn’t provide much encouragement to develop the attitudes we see in Timothy. Do you have a special friend with a kindred spirit? Consider sending them a note today about what their friendship means to you.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Day of Christ
Philippians 2:26
“Holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”
Paul uses an interesting phrase in this verse that I would like to dwell on for a moment; the day of Christ. It is interesting that as we are working our way through the book of Philippians we should come to this passage on Easter Sunday. As Paul explains, for himself and all Christians that will certainly be a day of rejoicing.
The day of Christ is speaking of the time when Christ will return to this earth to receive Christians unto Himself. The next event we expect to happen at any moment is called the Rapture. I Thessalonians 4:16-17 says “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Jesus doesn’t come all the way to the earth at this time, but Christians are caught up to meet him in the air. Non-Christians on this earth will certainly recognize that some major event has occurred as all Christians are removed from the earth. The imminent coming of this event is our great hope.
The Bible tells us of other important events that will occur but this is the one that we think will happen next. Notice earlier in that passage (v. 13-14) the phrase “the dead in Christ shall rise first”. That means our Christian relatives and friends who have died will be united with their glorified bodies and then we will join them. Because of that we, as Christians, do not mourn as non-Christians because we know our separation from our loved ones is only temporary. The non-Christian does not have that hope so their sorrow is much deeper.
Today, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, we look forward with anticipation to His return.
HE IS RISEN
Sunday, March 28, 2010
God’s Work in You
Philippians 2:13
“…for it is God who is at work in you,
both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
“…for it is God who is at work in you,
both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Let’s finish our thoughts on the verses we began looking at last week. How does God work in us? I can think of three ways immediately; He energizes, provides enablement and provides desire.
I learned long ago that when I try to do things in my own strength there are usually two results; I fail and I am not blessed. Paul will tell us later on in this book (4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Whether I try to share a spiritual truth with a friend or have been on the mission field, I’ve learned that I need to depend on God’s strength, not my own resources. How do I do that? By asking Him to lead me to those He wants me to share with, asking Him to bless my efforts, and realizing that it is not my attempt to convince people, but the very words of Scripture that are convicting.
God also provides enablement through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we are “filled with the Spirit” He is in complete control of our lives. I can tell you from personal experience that He will bring to your mind verses you have memorized years ago. He takes away fears that may develop within your mind. He provides great confidence as you depend on Him.
Finally, God gives us a desire to serve Him. We can look at the examples of many men and women in Scripture who faithfully followed Him. Just a simple word from Jesus captivated the twelve disciples. He didn’t have to spend a lot of time and effort convincing them to follow Him. That is because the Holy Spirit had prepared their heart to be receptive. God does that in our heart also. That doesn’t necessarily mean we are all called into full-time service. I never felt led that way, but the Spirit has definitely placed in my heart a desire to serve Him through teaching, serving in positions of responsibility in our church, and participating in community activities as his representative.
I pray that you might recognize God’s work in your life, and serve Him well. As you do that you will “appear as a light in the world” (2:15).
I learned long ago that when I try to do things in my own strength there are usually two results; I fail and I am not blessed. Paul will tell us later on in this book (4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Whether I try to share a spiritual truth with a friend or have been on the mission field, I’ve learned that I need to depend on God’s strength, not my own resources. How do I do that? By asking Him to lead me to those He wants me to share with, asking Him to bless my efforts, and realizing that it is not my attempt to convince people, but the very words of Scripture that are convicting.
God also provides enablement through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we are “filled with the Spirit” He is in complete control of our lives. I can tell you from personal experience that He will bring to your mind verses you have memorized years ago. He takes away fears that may develop within your mind. He provides great confidence as you depend on Him.
Finally, God gives us a desire to serve Him. We can look at the examples of many men and women in Scripture who faithfully followed Him. Just a simple word from Jesus captivated the twelve disciples. He didn’t have to spend a lot of time and effort convincing them to follow Him. That is because the Holy Spirit had prepared their heart to be receptive. God does that in our heart also. That doesn’t necessarily mean we are all called into full-time service. I never felt led that way, but the Spirit has definitely placed in my heart a desire to serve Him through teaching, serving in positions of responsibility in our church, and participating in community activities as his representative.
I pray that you might recognize God’s work in your life, and serve Him well. As you do that you will “appear as a light in the world” (2:15).
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Work Out Your Salvation
Philippians 2:12-13
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
These verses have caused some confusion among Christians because some believe they are saying that we have to earn our salvation, or that salvation is based on works. I don’t believe that is the case. Notice that Paul addresses the epistle (1:1) to “saints”; so the people to whom he is addressing the letter are already Christians.
I think Paul is exhorting the Christians to exercise, or put into practice, their belief. We begin exercising our belief by becoming knowledgeable of the Bible and by staying true to the convictions we gain from it. A consistent prayer life is critical to working out our salvation. How can we know the will of God for us without communicating with Him? When we sin, we confess that sin immediately (I John 1:9) so that we remain in right relationship with Him. That gives the Holy Spirit free reign to influence our decisions and our actions.
These steps lead to the outward manifestations of the Christian life. Our lives reveal the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”(Gal. 5:22-23). As we do that we are able to develop and maintain the relationship with other Christians: “being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose”(Phil. 2:2). We are also able to live our lives before non-Christians as God desires.
The book of James has much to say about working out your salvation. In 2:24, 26 he explains “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone…..For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” I would encourage you to carefully study this book.
Salvation is a free gift of God and there is absolutely no way we can work our way to an eternity with Him. Once we are saved it is our responsibility to learn to live the way God desires and to then put those convictions into practice.
These verses have caused some confusion among Christians because some believe they are saying that we have to earn our salvation, or that salvation is based on works. I don’t believe that is the case. Notice that Paul addresses the epistle (1:1) to “saints”; so the people to whom he is addressing the letter are already Christians.
I think Paul is exhorting the Christians to exercise, or put into practice, their belief. We begin exercising our belief by becoming knowledgeable of the Bible and by staying true to the convictions we gain from it. A consistent prayer life is critical to working out our salvation. How can we know the will of God for us without communicating with Him? When we sin, we confess that sin immediately (I John 1:9) so that we remain in right relationship with Him. That gives the Holy Spirit free reign to influence our decisions and our actions.
These steps lead to the outward manifestations of the Christian life. Our lives reveal the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”(Gal. 5:22-23). As we do that we are able to develop and maintain the relationship with other Christians: “being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose”(Phil. 2:2). We are also able to live our lives before non-Christians as God desires.
The book of James has much to say about working out your salvation. In 2:24, 26 he explains “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone…..For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” I would encourage you to carefully study this book.
Salvation is a free gift of God and there is absolutely no way we can work our way to an eternity with Him. Once we are saved it is our responsibility to learn to live the way God desires and to then put those convictions into practice.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Attitude of Christ
Philippians 2:5-8
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
In this passage Paul exhorts us to develop the attitude of Christ while He was here on earth. First, note that he willingly gave up equality with God. Paul shares three things about this attitude. First He “emptied himself” That means he became completely selfless, always acting in the best interest of others, never in His own interest.
Secondly, he took “the form of a bond servant”. He came to earth to carry out His Father’s will and never insisted on His own way. That is mostly dramatically revealed to us in the garden of Gethsemane when He was praying (Luke 22:42) “Father, If thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but thine be done.” He was willing to take upon himself the sin burden of the whole world so that we might have eternal life.
Thirdly, He was physically born and made in the likeness of man. He physically and mentally suffered as we do. He was tempted to sin just as we are. He grew weary and hungry just as we do. Yet, even though He was genuinely human, He did not sin.
Finally, this passage tells us He was obedient to the Father, even to the point of death. The death He suffered was the most cruel and despicable possible. Hanging on a cross was limited to non-Romans and the worst criminals. And the amazing thing is He died “for the joy set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). “He endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Jesus did this for you and for me. Paul is encouraging us to have the same attitude. I don’t know what the future holds for you or for me, but we can be confident that our future is in God’s hands. I pray this truth will stay permanently etched in your mind.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Others More Important Than Self
Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
In the last two verses Paul spoke of unity and oneness. He continues that now by stating a very important principle and warns against the trait of being selfish. Notice the positive statement is sandwiched between two negatives. First he warns against selfishness or conceit. Selfishness means not being willing to share. God wants us to hold everything with an open hand. He wants us to be willing to help others in need. Need can be more than financial; it can be emotional or it can be physical. I can tell you from experience, it is more blessed to give than to receive. There is a great joy that comes from seeing needs met.
There are three cautions in these verses. First be careful about selfishness and then guard against conceit. Conceit reveals pride, snobbery or arrogance. Notice that trait is described as being “empty”. God highly values the attitude of humility. Remember the statement that Christ humbled himself to become a man. Conceit is very common in our world. We want to look or dress better than others; own more expensive things; live in better houses, etc. Selfishness and conceit prevents us from being generous.
The third caution Paul gives us is that we should “not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others”. That is very similar to being selfish, but I think extends the thought. We should be careful to take note of what is best for others. We should be willing to sacrifice our desires for the best interest of others if the Holy Spirit leads us. That attitude may cause us not to do something we otherwise have the freedom to do because we know a friend doesn’t have that freedom. It may cause us to pay a utility bill for someone rather than spend money on something we want. You probably can think of many other examples.
It is in your best interest to be alert for the interest of others. You will receive much more satisfaction from that than from selfishness or conceit.
In the last two verses Paul spoke of unity and oneness. He continues that now by stating a very important principle and warns against the trait of being selfish. Notice the positive statement is sandwiched between two negatives. First he warns against selfishness or conceit. Selfishness means not being willing to share. God wants us to hold everything with an open hand. He wants us to be willing to help others in need. Need can be more than financial; it can be emotional or it can be physical. I can tell you from experience, it is more blessed to give than to receive. There is a great joy that comes from seeing needs met.
There are three cautions in these verses. First be careful about selfishness and then guard against conceit. Conceit reveals pride, snobbery or arrogance. Notice that trait is described as being “empty”. God highly values the attitude of humility. Remember the statement that Christ humbled himself to become a man. Conceit is very common in our world. We want to look or dress better than others; own more expensive things; live in better houses, etc. Selfishness and conceit prevents us from being generous.
The third caution Paul gives us is that we should “not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others”. That is very similar to being selfish, but I think extends the thought. We should be careful to take note of what is best for others. We should be willing to sacrifice our desires for the best interest of others if the Holy Spirit leads us. That attitude may cause us not to do something we otherwise have the freedom to do because we know a friend doesn’t have that freedom. It may cause us to pay a utility bill for someone rather than spend money on something we want. You probably can think of many other examples.
It is in your best interest to be alert for the interest of others. You will receive much more satisfaction from that than from selfishness or conceit.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Four Qualities Of Spiritual Unity
Philippians 2:1-2
“If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is an consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”
Paul lists four qualities of spiritual unity and then in the next verse gives four exhortations to maintain that unity:
Quality
Encouragement in Christ
Comfort from His love
Fellowship of the Spirit
Affection and compassion
Exhortation
Be of the same mind
Maintain the same love
Oneness in spirit
Oneness in purpose
Just as Christians draw encouragement from Christ and what He has done for us, so are we to be of one mind to encourage others and to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We encourage our mates and our families by being of the same mind and not bickering with each other. Paul was encouraging the church at Philippi to be of the same mind so they might be most effective in the Christian life. We are to have the same attitude in our church body.
We draw comfort from Christ’s love, especially when we face tough situations. We are to maintain that same love toward Him and toward each other. That love will cause us to always think and do what is best for each other.
We appreciate the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives and are encouraged to be filled with His presence (Eph. 5:18). If we are filled with the Spirit and fulfilling His will in our lives we as a couple, a family, a church will be unified in the Spirit.
Finally, we are encouraged to have and to demonstrate concern and love for each other. All of these qualities come together to make us one in purpose.
I pray that you will seek the qualities we have discussed and that they will produce the results God desires
Paul lists four qualities of spiritual unity and then in the next verse gives four exhortations to maintain that unity:
Quality
Encouragement in Christ
Comfort from His love
Fellowship of the Spirit
Affection and compassion
Exhortation
Be of the same mind
Maintain the same love
Oneness in spirit
Oneness in purpose
Just as Christians draw encouragement from Christ and what He has done for us, so are we to be of one mind to encourage others and to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We encourage our mates and our families by being of the same mind and not bickering with each other. Paul was encouraging the church at Philippi to be of the same mind so they might be most effective in the Christian life. We are to have the same attitude in our church body.
We draw comfort from Christ’s love, especially when we face tough situations. We are to maintain that same love toward Him and toward each other. That love will cause us to always think and do what is best for each other.
We appreciate the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives and are encouraged to be filled with His presence (Eph. 5:18). If we are filled with the Spirit and fulfilling His will in our lives we as a couple, a family, a church will be unified in the Spirit.
Finally, we are encouraged to have and to demonstrate concern and love for each other. All of these qualities come together to make us one in purpose.
I pray that you will seek the qualities we have discussed and that they will produce the results God desires
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Christian Conduct
Philippians 1:27-28
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents – which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.”Paul next urges the Christians to live in “a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”. Then he indicates what that means. He encourages them to:
“stand firm in one spirit”
“with one mind”
“striving together for the faith”
be prepared for your opponent
be confident in your victory
His first exhortation is to “stand firm”. We should not be bashful or ashamed about our belief in Jesus Christ. Our opponents should not be able to cause us to back down from our belief. We are able to stand firm by relying on the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with His presence He is able to help us do that. We must also be careful not to let other “spirits” control us; notice the use of “one”. One of Satan’s tactics is to use other spirits to confuse us and we must be careful not to let that happen.“with one mind”
“striving together for the faith”
be prepared for your opponent
be confident in your victory
If we are together in one spirit we will have one mind. We must be careful about divisions within. Satan uses disagreement to divide us. Our heart and our mind should be centered on the person of Christ and that happens by faithfully studying the Bible, maintaining a consistent prayer life, and confessing sin as soon as we realize it.
When Paul says we should “strive together for the faith” he reminds us that we are not in the battle alone. We remain strong through fellowship with other believers. We can accomplish more together as a group than we can as individuals. We encourage one another, we exhort one another and we comfort one another.
We should remain constantly prepared for our opponent. Sometimes Satan works in very subtle ways and we must remain on guard against his advances. Ephesians 6:10-11 tells us we should “put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Finally, if we will do those things we can be confident in victory. Paul says in II Cor. 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ…”
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Paul's Life Purpose - Exaltation of Christ
Philippians 1:20-21
“according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Paul’s statement here, as well as other similar statements in this book, reveals to us his purpose in life “to glorify Christ”. It was his prayerful desire that regardless of what happened to him, including death, Christ would be exalted. Because Paul has written so much of the New Testament we get to know him quite well as we study God’s Word. Although he uses the personal pronouns “I”, “me”, and “my” many times in the books he wrote they are carefully wrapped in language that reveals to us a selfless attitude and one of glorifying Christ.
As Paul sits in prison he realizes he potentially faces imminent death. Because of the cold, difficult circumstances death could come through illness or at the hands of his captors. We talked about attitude earlier and here we see that Paul had adopted the attitude of regardless of what would be done to him physically, he was going to glorify Christ. He was so dedicated to that purpose in life that nothing, including death, was going to distract him from it.
The statement in verse 21 “for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” reveals his attitude that his enemies could do him a favor by killing him, because that would bring him into an even deeper relationship with Christ. I’m reminded of Psalm 116:15 which says “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones”. God looks at death differently than do we, because He knows we will enter an enhanced relationship with Him that we cannot realize while living on this earth. I’m confident that Paul understood that and knew he would be rid of all the ravages of sin that buffeted his mind and body.
These verses help me to see how purposefully Paul walked through life and challenges me to do the same. Because of this attitude Paul had a joy and inner peace that is not realized by many. As we began to study this book I mentioned one of the themes was joy. I pray that you will clearly see God’s purpose for your life and carry it out with joy.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Basis of Our Confidence
Philippians 1:19
“For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Paul expressed the real basis for peace and confidence in this verse; prayer and God’s provision of the Holy Spirit. He was a strong believer in prayer and he also knew the Philippians were praying diligently for him. I’m sure he also sensed the filling of the Spirit in His life and knew that if he stayed in fellowship with God, the Spirit would lead him in God’s best for him and would protect him through whatever he faced.
While many Christians give verbal assent to the importance of prayer, relatively few prayer warriors exist today. Wednesday night prayer services have become almost extinct in our churches today. Individually we seem to be so busy often we only pray when we are in trouble or in need of God’s help. God designed us to communicate with Him and He strongly desires we do that.
How can we develop the discipline of prayer? First, we must make it a priority. For years I have found the best time for me to have an extended prayer time is early in the morning before all the hassles of the day begin. It is easier then for me to remain in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. In the well known passage concerning prayer, Matthew six, Jesus said “when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father…”
Secondly, it is good to maintain a list of prayer needs. Years ago I developed a prayer list for each day of the week. I pray each member of our family every day. I pray for each of the missionaries we support once a week. I pray for our pastors and his families several times a week. We also get a list of needs each Monday from our church family.
Finally it is good to take note of God’s answers. Sometime they come quickly and sometimes God says “no” or “wait”. We must believe His timing is perfect.
We must also realize the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. One of the responsibilities of the Spirit is to intercede for us. Romans 8:26 says “…for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
I pray that you will be a person of prayer, because in those times of quietness you will draw closest to Him
Paul expressed the real basis for peace and confidence in this verse; prayer and God’s provision of the Holy Spirit. He was a strong believer in prayer and he also knew the Philippians were praying diligently for him. I’m sure he also sensed the filling of the Spirit in His life and knew that if he stayed in fellowship with God, the Spirit would lead him in God’s best for him and would protect him through whatever he faced.
While many Christians give verbal assent to the importance of prayer, relatively few prayer warriors exist today. Wednesday night prayer services have become almost extinct in our churches today. Individually we seem to be so busy often we only pray when we are in trouble or in need of God’s help. God designed us to communicate with Him and He strongly desires we do that.
How can we develop the discipline of prayer? First, we must make it a priority. For years I have found the best time for me to have an extended prayer time is early in the morning before all the hassles of the day begin. It is easier then for me to remain in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. In the well known passage concerning prayer, Matthew six, Jesus said “when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father…”
Secondly, it is good to maintain a list of prayer needs. Years ago I developed a prayer list for each day of the week. I pray each member of our family every day. I pray for each of the missionaries we support once a week. I pray for our pastors and his families several times a week. We also get a list of needs each Monday from our church family.
Finally it is good to take note of God’s answers. Sometime they come quickly and sometimes God says “no” or “wait”. We must believe His timing is perfect.
We must also realize the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. One of the responsibilities of the Spirit is to intercede for us. Romans 8:26 says “…for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
I pray that you will be a person of prayer, because in those times of quietness you will draw closest to Him
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Does Motive Matter
Philippians 1:15-18
In this passage Paul explains that some are preaching Christ out of envy and others out of selfish ambition, rather than pure motives. Nevertheless Paul says that whenever Christ is proclaimed he will rejoice.
I’m reminded of a similar passage in Mark 9:40 when John came to Jesus and told him that the disciples had tried to hinder someone who was casting out demons in Jesus name, but was not following them. Jesus replied to him “he who is not against us is for us.”
These instances cause us to ask the question does our motive really matter. I think we must consider that perspective from two views. First, the Holy Spirit can use any method to work in the heart of the unbeliever. Those who receive and embrace the message of the Gospel are responding to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and from that perspective the messenger is not important.
On the other hand I don’t believe the one who proclaims the Gospel out of envy or selfish ambition is going to receive eternal rewards for doing that. They are getting their reward right now. That leads me to believe that motive is important from a personal perspective because one day we will be able to lay the rewards we have gathered for service at Jesus feet as we worship Him. Those who labor from a selfish perspective will not be able to do that. Christ talks about motives in Matt. 6 and three times (v. 2, 5, 16) explains “they have their reward in full”.
I think there are two lessons we can take from the passage. First, we must be careful about judging the motives of others and look for the good that may be realized for Christ. Secondly, we must make sure that our motives are pure when we labor for Him or share our testimony to others. We must do it for His glory and not any benefit we will receive.
I’m reminded of a similar passage in Mark 9:40 when John came to Jesus and told him that the disciples had tried to hinder someone who was casting out demons in Jesus name, but was not following them. Jesus replied to him “he who is not against us is for us.”
These instances cause us to ask the question does our motive really matter. I think we must consider that perspective from two views. First, the Holy Spirit can use any method to work in the heart of the unbeliever. Those who receive and embrace the message of the Gospel are responding to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and from that perspective the messenger is not important.
On the other hand I don’t believe the one who proclaims the Gospel out of envy or selfish ambition is going to receive eternal rewards for doing that. They are getting their reward right now. That leads me to believe that motive is important from a personal perspective because one day we will be able to lay the rewards we have gathered for service at Jesus feet as we worship Him. Those who labor from a selfish perspective will not be able to do that. Christ talks about motives in Matt. 6 and three times (v. 2, 5, 16) explains “they have their reward in full”.
I think there are two lessons we can take from the passage. First, we must be careful about judging the motives of others and look for the good that may be realized for Christ. Secondly, we must make sure that our motives are pure when we labor for Him or share our testimony to others. We must do it for His glory and not any benefit we will receive.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Handling Adversity
Philippians 1:13-14
“…so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”
As I have studied the life of Paul I’ve been impressed with the way he handled adversity in his life. We have the opportunity to observe him in many difficult circumstances including prison and trial, shipwreck, being physically beaten and in physical pain. He describes the adversity in his life in II Cor. 11:23 “…in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.” Through all of these situations he remained positive and maintained his testimony for the Lord.
Adversity comes into our lives for many reasons and it is important that we handle it well. Sometimes God may teach us through a trial or testing. At other times he may use difficulties in our lives to teach or reach others with whom we have influence. There is also the possibility that we are being disciplined for sin in our lives.
One of the most significant difficulties in my life has been handling the physical and mental deterioration of my mother. Our relationship, in essence, was reversed as she became the child and I became the parent. I became very aware that others were watching how I handled that situation. I also realized that I had to keep it in perspective. It could not become more important than my relationship with God or my relationship and responsibility to my wife. One of the significant benefits to me during those years was the enhancement of my prayer life and my dependence on the Lord to give me strength.
I don’t know what adversity may come into your life, but I know God allows it with a purpose. Run to Him, depend on Him and He will see you through it and you will grow from it.
As I have studied the life of Paul I’ve been impressed with the way he handled adversity in his life. We have the opportunity to observe him in many difficult circumstances including prison and trial, shipwreck, being physically beaten and in physical pain. He describes the adversity in his life in II Cor. 11:23 “…in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.” Through all of these situations he remained positive and maintained his testimony for the Lord.
Adversity comes into our lives for many reasons and it is important that we handle it well. Sometimes God may teach us through a trial or testing. At other times he may use difficulties in our lives to teach or reach others with whom we have influence. There is also the possibility that we are being disciplined for sin in our lives.
One of the most significant difficulties in my life has been handling the physical and mental deterioration of my mother. Our relationship, in essence, was reversed as she became the child and I became the parent. I became very aware that others were watching how I handled that situation. I also realized that I had to keep it in perspective. It could not become more important than my relationship with God or my relationship and responsibility to my wife. One of the significant benefits to me during those years was the enhancement of my prayer life and my dependence on the Lord to give me strength.
I don’t know what adversity may come into your life, but I know God allows it with a purpose. Run to Him, depend on Him and He will see you through it and you will grow from it.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
No Accidents With God
Philippians 1:12
“Now I want you to know, brethren that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel…”
I’ve marked in the margin of my Bible beside this verse Romans 8:28 “and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
The first place in the Bible this concept is mentioned is in Genesis 50:20 when Joseph is addressing his brothers late in his life. There he says “and as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Joseph was speaking of his brothers selling him into slavery when he was a young man. We know that God protected and matured Joseph so that one day he would be in a place to rescue his family and provide for them.
Paul really believed in the sovereignty and providence of God and in Philippians 1:12 expresses the thought that his time in jail was a part of God’s plan to cause the spread of the Gospel. Other believers who have witnessed Paul’s attitude toward his circumstances have developed the courage to share the Gospel.
Really believing that God uses every circumstance or difficulty we encounter for good allows us to have a different perspective as we walk through tough times. Those are often times when we are tremendous testimonies to others. As we endure trials with an attitude that honors God, others see the Christian faith at work in our lives. That is the positive manifestation of the cliché “your actions speak louder than your words”.
It is God’s design that we don’t know what the future holds. However, we can be confident in Him who has planned our future and we can face each situation with the assurance that God is walking through it with us and if we yield to His will all things will work together for good.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
God’s Perfecting Work
Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
I think we can take this verse very personally. A good paraphrase for this verse is that saying we have seen on T-shirts “Be patient, God is not finished with me yet.” God began His good work in you the day you were conceived. Ephesians 1:3 says that “He predestined us to adoption as sons”. If you have trusted the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior the Holy Spirit resides within you causing you to grow in your relationship with the Lord. That work of maturity will not be complete until the “the day of Christ Jesus”. That day is the day the Lord Jesus calls Christians home to be with Him in heaven (I Thes. 4:16-17).
To some extent that perfecting work is dependent upon us because God has given us a free will. We can resist God’s work in our life or we can embrace it. We resist it by insisting on having our own way; by not following God’s leading. He doesn’t force His way on us. We can passively resist it by not praying, by not being diligent to study God’s Word, by not worshipping Him and by not fellowshipping with other believers. All of these actions (praying, studying, worshiping, fellowshipping) will help us grow and mature in Him.
I can assure you this is not a good approach to life. By resisting God’s will you will not experience the joy we read about in this book. As you resist God’s will you are allowing the old sin nature to control your life. You are quenching the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Someone has said that there is no one as miserable as a Christian out of fellowship with God and I think that is true.
Sometimes we tend to get impatient with God but we must remember that His timing is perfect. He knows what is best for you at each point in your life and is at work molding you into the person He wants you to be. You can be confident that He will complete that work and that your joy will be complete.
I think we can take this verse very personally. A good paraphrase for this verse is that saying we have seen on T-shirts “Be patient, God is not finished with me yet.” God began His good work in you the day you were conceived. Ephesians 1:3 says that “He predestined us to adoption as sons”. If you have trusted the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior the Holy Spirit resides within you causing you to grow in your relationship with the Lord. That work of maturity will not be complete until the “the day of Christ Jesus”. That day is the day the Lord Jesus calls Christians home to be with Him in heaven (I Thes. 4:16-17).
To some extent that perfecting work is dependent upon us because God has given us a free will. We can resist God’s work in our life or we can embrace it. We resist it by insisting on having our own way; by not following God’s leading. He doesn’t force His way on us. We can passively resist it by not praying, by not being diligent to study God’s Word, by not worshipping Him and by not fellowshipping with other believers. All of these actions (praying, studying, worshiping, fellowshipping) will help us grow and mature in Him.
I can assure you this is not a good approach to life. By resisting God’s will you will not experience the joy we read about in this book. As you resist God’s will you are allowing the old sin nature to control your life. You are quenching the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Someone has said that there is no one as miserable as a Christian out of fellowship with God and I think that is true.
Sometimes we tend to get impatient with God but we must remember that His timing is perfect. He knows what is best for you at each point in your life and is at work molding you into the person He wants you to be. You can be confident that He will complete that work and that your joy will be complete.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Prayer
Philippians 1:4, 9-11
“…always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,…and this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God”
There are many things we can consider as we meditate on the passage. First, notice that Paul had a joyful attitude. Although he was in difficult circumstances, that did not affect his attitude. In fact, the practice of prayer most likely improved his attitude. I had the privilege of visiting an old prison cell in Rome that was said to be the one in which Paul was held. Even if it wasn’t it was similar. It was dark, cool and damp; candles were used for light. There was a stream in it. As I tried to place myself in Paul’s position I wondered why God had put him there and how I would handle the situation. Perhaps that was God’s way of giving time to Paul to pen many portions of God’s Scripture. It certainly gave him the opportunity to realize the value of his friends and to pray for them.
Paul tells us in v. 9-11 that he prayed specifically three things for those he loved in Philippi. First he prayed that their love would abound in “real knowledge and all discernment”. While God gives us wisdom I think we have the responsibility to obtain knowledge. We do that through the study of the Bible. I think Paul was praying that they would grow deep in God’s Word. That knowledge can lead to discernment if applied correctly. Spiritual knowledge and insight allows us to love God and others more.
Then he prayed that they “may approve things that are excellent, in order to be pure and blameless”. We must be careful not to settle for “good” but strive for excellence, especially in our relationship with God. Being pure and blameless means that we don’t have unconfessed sin in our lives, but are filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 includes the command “be filled with the Spirit”; a clear indication that filling is man’s responsibility. A Christian never needs more of the Spirit; he simply needs to be in right relationship with God in order to be filled.
If we are filled with the Spirit we will experience the fruit of righteousness. Gal. 5:22-23 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Consider how each of those is manifested in your life.
As we begin this year I encourage you to take account of your prayer life. Do you have a regular time to pray each day? Do you keep a list of those prayer needs? Do you remember to thank God for His faithfulness in responding to you? Prayer can be difficult but it is rewarding.
There are many things we can consider as we meditate on the passage. First, notice that Paul had a joyful attitude. Although he was in difficult circumstances, that did not affect his attitude. In fact, the practice of prayer most likely improved his attitude. I had the privilege of visiting an old prison cell in Rome that was said to be the one in which Paul was held. Even if it wasn’t it was similar. It was dark, cool and damp; candles were used for light. There was a stream in it. As I tried to place myself in Paul’s position I wondered why God had put him there and how I would handle the situation. Perhaps that was God’s way of giving time to Paul to pen many portions of God’s Scripture. It certainly gave him the opportunity to realize the value of his friends and to pray for them.
Paul tells us in v. 9-11 that he prayed specifically three things for those he loved in Philippi. First he prayed that their love would abound in “real knowledge and all discernment”. While God gives us wisdom I think we have the responsibility to obtain knowledge. We do that through the study of the Bible. I think Paul was praying that they would grow deep in God’s Word. That knowledge can lead to discernment if applied correctly. Spiritual knowledge and insight allows us to love God and others more.
Then he prayed that they “may approve things that are excellent, in order to be pure and blameless”. We must be careful not to settle for “good” but strive for excellence, especially in our relationship with God. Being pure and blameless means that we don’t have unconfessed sin in our lives, but are filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 includes the command “be filled with the Spirit”; a clear indication that filling is man’s responsibility. A Christian never needs more of the Spirit; he simply needs to be in right relationship with God in order to be filled.
If we are filled with the Spirit we will experience the fruit of righteousness. Gal. 5:22-23 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Consider how each of those is manifested in your life.
As we begin this year I encourage you to take account of your prayer life. Do you have a regular time to pray each day? Do you keep a list of those prayer needs? Do you remember to thank God for His faithfulness in responding to you? Prayer can be difficult but it is rewarding.
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