I try to write at the leading of the Holy Spirit. I have shared that with most of you before. And I have prayed that during this time, while I am in school and pulled in every direction, that the Lord would still speak to me and continue to allow me to write the words that He speaks to me. It has been my buoy, the way I have been able to feel his presence in my life in a powerful way. And apparently He has and is….the story of Esther has mingled in my mind and heart for weeks now. The same words keep stiriring in my spirit and so I trust that my Lord wants them spoken for me…for someone.
The first look into Esther was not what I wrote on my last post…this was what the Lord showed me in the first few minutes of the movie and I didn’t know how to put it into words and actually He used my last post to convict me to write today. So, I hope I can be obedient and let the Holy Spirit to speak through me.
In the first few minutes of the movie they rustled up all the young women. The king’s personal attendants proposed that a search be made for all the beautiful, young virgins. They were to be brought to the royal harem and placed under the care of the king’s eunuch. Esther won his favor and he provided her with beauty treatments, special foods, seven maids selected from the king’s palace and moved her into the best place in the harem.
The girls had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oils and six months with perfumes before they could be brought before the King. When it was her turn, in the evening, she would go to the King and in the morning return to the harem. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
This is where I started to feel all kinds of emotions. I even stopped my TIVO and read through my bible to be sure that they weren’t over dramasting the whole process. And it was acted pretty close to scripture. I felt for this young woman, who I can assume being Jewish had a pretty strict upbringing. I felt for her being a young woman and a virgin and thrown into this harem to be treated like a steer up for auction. She was taken from a comfortable life with great freedoms (Jews were even allowed to own and run their own businesses) and put somewhere that had to be against who and what she was. She had no rights or freedoms and even though it doesn’t say this her morality was stripped from her. Her sole purpose and not by her choice but by force, was to serve the king and await his call for sexual pleasure.
Yet, it states in Esther 2:15…And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. It came to me that this couldn’t be only because of her beauty…there had to be more to the substance of this young woman. And sure enough we found out on my last post that there was plenty of outstanding character in this one person. This is what spoke to me and spoke strongly. How many times in our lives are we in a place that we don’t want to be…whether by our choice or circumstance? All of us will be there at some point in life if we haven’t encountered that already. It might be a marriage we shouldn’t have jumped into…it might be a job we took or had to take and then were miserable. It might be losing a child or spouse or being thrust into the throws of disease (the scariest…the big C). It could be any kind of major change in your life that has thrown you off kilter.
And that was the lesson the Holy Spirit was speaking to me…are the changes in my life worse than being taken from my home, family and security and thrust into a harem with hundreds of other young virgins. How do the changes compare to living day in and day out just waiting to hear my name called so I can be used for the sexual pleasures of a king and then possibly cast aside to wait in dread for my name to be called again? Let me tell you….my life is a picnic!!
The problem is, my character has not risen to the character of Esther. I have not focused on the providence of my Savior. I have not run to him and let him give me strength. I have not wanted to risk my security, my life that I love and am comfortable in to serve God in a different plan. I have not wanted any other plan! I only want what I have been comfortable in….yes, I have been extremely selfish! There I said it.
Where would history be if Esther hadn’t gone along with the plan and gone along with it in a positive manner. I believe, because the scriptures tells us, that she won the favor of the king’s eunuch and she didn’t accomplish that by griping and complaining or kicking or crying. She went beyond just doing what she had to do, she trusted in God and made the best of it. And she reaped blessings…the king fell madly in love with her and she became queen. She earned trust and favor and was able to save her people. And because of her Mordecai, who was at one time condemned to death, rose to become the second highest ranking official in the nation. And I am sure there are plenty more great deeds in the life of Esther that are not recorded in those short ten chapters.
The Holy Spirit has played this scripture in my head over and over the last few weeks….”And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14. God knows why we are where we are! We might be in this royal position because he has a great work for us. We might be in this position because, like Esther, God has hand picked us for service to him in a place different from what we are used to. Maybe, He has already called us but we have been digging our heels in the ground and refusing to trust… to relinquish control of all of our life to Him, not just when we are comfortable. And just maybe…we are where we are because this is our royal position and there is a time such as this!!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
So much character
I was watching an old movie the other day….”ESTHER”. It was made in the late 50’s or early 60’s and held my interest. During the movie God was speaking to me about Esther and how he was able to use her for His service.
The story of Esther and thus the book is one of romance but also of obedience, loyalty and service to God. Esther was gathered up with many young women to be taken to the King of Persia so that he might choose a wife. The king was taken with her beauty, captivated by her physical charms, and mesmerized by an inward beauty that radiated through her personality and character. The King was so taken with this young girl that he broke Persian law…it held that one of the royal line must marry a wife belonging to the seven great Persian families. God had a plan and his Esther was to be brought to the throne for His service. The King of Persia chose this young Jewish girl as his wife, unaware she was Jewish.
Mordecai, her foster father, had made her promise not to reveal her nationality to the King until the opportune time. She keep this pledge and dutifully obeyed her foster father. How wonderful it is when we honor our parents with obedience which in turn is honoring our heavenly Father. Not only did she honor her family but she honored her nationality…she ferociously loved her race. But exhibiting honor to her pledge and self-control she kept her nationality a secret until the opportune time. You see, someone in the King’s inner circle, a man named Haman, had become furious with Mordecai (Esther’s foster father), and was determined to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews along with him. This meant death for the Jews which included Esther. Haman deceived the King and persuaded him to issue an edict condemning the Jews to death. Mordecai got word to Esther and she decided to risk her life to save her people.
You should really read the book if you haven’t done so already because my condensed version really doesn’t do it justice. But anyway…. in deciding to attempt to save the lives of her people she sent a reply to Mordecai and told him to “gather all the Jews and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day…when this is done, I will go to the King, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4: 15-16). What nerves of steel! What strength and trust in God she had!
It is then that Esther invited her King and Haman to a special banquet. Even the invitation to the banquet was dramatic…she made her plans carefully. You see, even though she was the queen and quite favored, she was not allowed to see the King unless he requested it. The King did ask her to come forward but with a heap of self-control and knowing that perfect timing is everything, she invited the King to the banquet I mentioned earlier. He was smart enough to pick up on the fact that his queen had something more on her mind that just a simple feast. So they attended her banquet.
During this banquet the King asked Esther what she really wanted and she invited them to another banquet… again with great self-control, having a plan and being bathed in prayer she conveyed the importance of the matter and asked for them to come to a second banquet. Yes, she had the heart of her King but she was really pushing her own security! It was then at the second feast that she dropped the bombshell…she told her king of Haman’s plot against the Jews and Haman was doomed. In fact, Haman had gallows built to hang Mordecai at and instead it was those very gallows where Haman met with his death.
The real story here is how Esther’s risk confirmed that God was the source of her security. It is also about serving our Master to the limit of our ability, where in His Providence He has placed us, and thus preparing ourselves for a larger circle of service if such be His will. I want the character of Esther…when chosen by my Father I want to be ready to renounce self and exert myself for the good of others. I want my character to show that I have unbounded confidence in God’s Providence—and to acknowledge God as the Author of all mercies. I want my character to show that I realize that there are magnificent and unparalleled opportunities in the place I have been put to serve the Lord, my God with loyalty, confidence and security.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
The story of Esther and thus the book is one of romance but also of obedience, loyalty and service to God. Esther was gathered up with many young women to be taken to the King of Persia so that he might choose a wife. The king was taken with her beauty, captivated by her physical charms, and mesmerized by an inward beauty that radiated through her personality and character. The King was so taken with this young girl that he broke Persian law…it held that one of the royal line must marry a wife belonging to the seven great Persian families. God had a plan and his Esther was to be brought to the throne for His service. The King of Persia chose this young Jewish girl as his wife, unaware she was Jewish.
Mordecai, her foster father, had made her promise not to reveal her nationality to the King until the opportune time. She keep this pledge and dutifully obeyed her foster father. How wonderful it is when we honor our parents with obedience which in turn is honoring our heavenly Father. Not only did she honor her family but she honored her nationality…she ferociously loved her race. But exhibiting honor to her pledge and self-control she kept her nationality a secret until the opportune time. You see, someone in the King’s inner circle, a man named Haman, had become furious with Mordecai (Esther’s foster father), and was determined to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews along with him. This meant death for the Jews which included Esther. Haman deceived the King and persuaded him to issue an edict condemning the Jews to death. Mordecai got word to Esther and she decided to risk her life to save her people.
You should really read the book if you haven’t done so already because my condensed version really doesn’t do it justice. But anyway…. in deciding to attempt to save the lives of her people she sent a reply to Mordecai and told him to “gather all the Jews and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day…when this is done, I will go to the King, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4: 15-16). What nerves of steel! What strength and trust in God she had!
It is then that Esther invited her King and Haman to a special banquet. Even the invitation to the banquet was dramatic…she made her plans carefully. You see, even though she was the queen and quite favored, she was not allowed to see the King unless he requested it. The King did ask her to come forward but with a heap of self-control and knowing that perfect timing is everything, she invited the King to the banquet I mentioned earlier. He was smart enough to pick up on the fact that his queen had something more on her mind that just a simple feast. So they attended her banquet.
During this banquet the King asked Esther what she really wanted and she invited them to another banquet… again with great self-control, having a plan and being bathed in prayer she conveyed the importance of the matter and asked for them to come to a second banquet. Yes, she had the heart of her King but she was really pushing her own security! It was then at the second feast that she dropped the bombshell…she told her king of Haman’s plot against the Jews and Haman was doomed. In fact, Haman had gallows built to hang Mordecai at and instead it was those very gallows where Haman met with his death.
The real story here is how Esther’s risk confirmed that God was the source of her security. It is also about serving our Master to the limit of our ability, where in His Providence He has placed us, and thus preparing ourselves for a larger circle of service if such be His will. I want the character of Esther…when chosen by my Father I want to be ready to renounce self and exert myself for the good of others. I want my character to show that I have unbounded confidence in God’s Providence—and to acknowledge God as the Author of all mercies. I want my character to show that I realize that there are magnificent and unparalleled opportunities in the place I have been put to serve the Lord, my God with loyalty, confidence and security.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
Monday, August 28, 2006
Standing at the Crossroads
How many of you can stand back, look over the past and see the times you have stood at some sort of crossroads? It might have been a relationship crossroad, it might have been a crossroad concerning a job, or it might have been the most important crossroad of life….to give your life to Jesus. We all have been at the crossroads of life; a place where we have to make a decision to go down one path or another. What should we do when we encounter these crossroads and especially when we don’t immediately see road signs directing us? Well, there is a little verse tucked away in the book of Jeremiah that clues us in….
This is what the Lord says; “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your soul. " Jeremiah 6:16
God has laid out a path for all of us. It is the right path and is ancient. It has been in the works from the very beginning. If we choose God’s ancient path for living instead of following a new path of our own choosing we will find “peace and rest for our souls”.
Okay, that seems easy enough but notice what Jeremiah instructs us to do when we get to the crossroads. Those three little words seem to jump right off the page…ASK! In other words we might not immediately see road signs clearly directing us down the exact path we need to take. The Lord wants us to come to Him, he wants to take us by the hand and lead us down the path to rest and peace. One other thing I noticed about this scripture….it is not about just the point of standing at the crossroads and choosing the right path…it also includes the journey. Read this part again, “…ask where the good way is, and walk in it…”. We will be walking in His perfect plan, this will be a journey and he wants us to come to him, let Him direct us and then He will take our hand and be there with us. We will be in His will and that will bring us the peace and rest in Him that he wants for us. What clarity that brings to those crossroads of life! When we encounter them we need to seek his direction, take his hand and journey down his perfect and ancient path with and in our Almighty Father. Then we will find rest for our souls!
AMEN!
This is what the Lord says; “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your soul. " Jeremiah 6:16
God has laid out a path for all of us. It is the right path and is ancient. It has been in the works from the very beginning. If we choose God’s ancient path for living instead of following a new path of our own choosing we will find “peace and rest for our souls”.
Okay, that seems easy enough but notice what Jeremiah instructs us to do when we get to the crossroads. Those three little words seem to jump right off the page…ASK! In other words we might not immediately see road signs clearly directing us down the exact path we need to take. The Lord wants us to come to Him, he wants to take us by the hand and lead us down the path to rest and peace. One other thing I noticed about this scripture….it is not about just the point of standing at the crossroads and choosing the right path…it also includes the journey. Read this part again, “…ask where the good way is, and walk in it…”. We will be walking in His perfect plan, this will be a journey and he wants us to come to him, let Him direct us and then He will take our hand and be there with us. We will be in His will and that will bring us the peace and rest in Him that he wants for us. What clarity that brings to those crossroads of life! When we encounter them we need to seek his direction, take his hand and journey down his perfect and ancient path with and in our Almighty Father. Then we will find rest for our souls!
AMEN!
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