Bible League: Living His Word Mordecai the Jew was second in importance to King Xerxes. He was the most important man among the Jews. His fellow Jews respected him very much, because he worked hard for the good of his people and brought peace to all the Jews.— Esther 10:3 ERV After the death of Haman, the enemy of the Jews (Esther 7:1-10), Mordecai was given a position of high authority in the Persian kingdom, second in importance to King Xerxes. What did he do with his power and authority? He used it to better the lot of the Jewish people, the people of God, who were exiles in the land. According to our verse for today, he was well respected by them because he worked hard for their good. He brought the Jewish exiles peace in the midst of their pagan overlords. Mordecai was a lot like Jesus. He had the same attitude toward the people of God as Jesus does. Jesus is considerate of the needs of His people. The Apostle Paul said of Jesus, “He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8) Mordecai is a model of what Christians should be like in this life. We should be considerate of the needs of the people of God. As Paul put it, “In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too,” (Philippians 2:3-4). In other words, we shouldn’t lord it over people and use them to our advantage, but we should thoughtfully think of them and what they need. Today, ask yourself these questions: What am I doing to benefit the people of God? Am I only concerned with what they can do for me, or am I considerate of them? Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 4, 5, 6 Leviticus 4 -- Sin Offerings NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 5 -- Guilt Offerings NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 6 -- Regulations for Burnt, Grain and Sin Offerings NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 25:1-30 Matthew 25 -- Parables of Ten Virgins, Talents, Sheep and Goats NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion The LORD's promises are pure,like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Insight Sincerity and truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare. Many people are deceivers, liars, flatterers; they think they will get what they want by deception. As a king, David certainly faced his share of such people, who hoped to win his favor and gain advancement through flattery. Challenge When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope—the Word of God. God's words are as flawless as refined silver. So listen carefully when he speaks. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 1:21 He shall save his people from their sins.Many persons, if they are asked what they understand by salvation, will reply, "Being saved from hell and taken to heaven." This is one result of salvation, but it is not one tithe of what is contained in that boon. It is true our Lord Jesus Christ does redeem all his people from the wrath to come; he saves them from the fearful condemnation which their sins had brought upon them; but his triumph is far more complete than this. He saves his people "from their sins." Oh! sweet deliverance from our worst foes. Where Christ works a saving work, he casts Satan from his throne, and will not let him be master any longer. No man is a true Christian if sin reigns in his mortal body. Sin will be in us--it will never be utterly expelled till the spirit enters glory; but it will never have dominion. There will be a striving for dominion--a lusting against the new law and the new spirit which God has implanted--but sin will never get the upper hand so as to be absolute monarch of our nature. Christ will be Master of the heart, and sin must be mortified. The Lion of the tribe of Judah shall prevail, and the dragon shall be cast out. Professor! is sin subdued in you? If your life is unholy your heart is unchanged, and if your heart is unchanged you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, he has done nothing in you of a saving character. The grace which does not make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit. Christ saves his people, not in their sins, but from them. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be counted among his people. Lord, save me now from all evil, and enable me to honor my Saviour. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 60:18 "Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, • having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, • in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, • in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. 1 Peter 2:3-5 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. • And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, • you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Psalm 65:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song. There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God, And to You the vow will be performed. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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