|
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
READ
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. "What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked. "Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered.
The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him. His attendants answered, "Haman is standing in the court." "Bring him in," the king ordered. When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?" So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!' "
"Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended." So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!" Afterward Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Esther 6:1-13 (NIV)
“…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:14-17 (NIV)
REFLECT
In studying the Book of Esther, we see that she was willing to take the big jump into what God called her to do instead of buying into the illusions of security. She could risk her life for the mission of God because she knew she served a big God. Each day this week, are looking at one of five little things to know about a big God. The first thing we learned is: When all seems lost…it isn’t. The second one was: When no one seems to notice…they do. Today, “When everything seems great…it’s not.
That sounds like a Murphy Law doesn’t it. Even when things are going great, be careful. We can quickly think that God is favoring us because we are special and better than other people. Or, we can slide into thinking we don’t need God anymore. So we ignore and forget Him. Both assumptions are wrong. In the passage above, King Xerxes scrambled to make up for the huge oversight of not honoring Mordecai for saving his life. And God’s timing is always amazing! Oh to be a fly on the wall and to get a peek at Haman’s face at one of the Bible’s most comical moments!
There are three ways to gain rewards in life: 1) Allowing God to reward you. 2) Allowing others to reward you. Or 3) Trying to reward yourself. Haman chose the third option. This is the worst way to gain rewards and it’s at the root of all temptation. More people have destroyed their lives trying to reward themselves, than any other way. Notice what James 1:14-17 says. Every temptation known to man starts with our ‘own evil desires’. I have a desire to reward myself for a tough day… so I drink. I want to reward myself for the hard work I do at work without recognition…so I steal from my employer. ?I feel I don’t get the attention I want from my wife so I reward myself with porn. The kids are driving me crazy…so I reward myself with spending money I don’t have. ?Every temptation has as it’s ‘ignition point’… the desire to meet my own needs in my own way. ??But James says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” In other words, God knows what my needs are and He knows how to reward me…IF I’ll let him. God’s gifts to me are a lot better than the ones I give myself! Haman tried to reward Himself and he ended up humiliated. Mordacai allowed God to reward him and he got more than He could ever imagine!
RESPOND
Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to seek my own recognition in my own way. Your ways are much higher than my ways. Help me to be honest with You and with myself and be real about when things are really great or not so great. May I always allow You to reward me in Your own way and time. May Your grace be sufficient. In Christ's Name, Amen. |
