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.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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.
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