Morning, February 8
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She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”  — Matthew 1:21
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 Reading
Leviticus 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  Thou shalt call his name Jesus.

When a person is dear, everything connected with him becomes dear for his sake. Thus, so precious is the person of the Lord Jesus in the estimation of all true believers, that everything about him they consider to be inestimable beyond all price. "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia," said David, as if the very vestments of the Saviour were so sweetened by his person that he could not but love them. Certain it is, that there is not a spot where that hallowed foot hath trodden--there is not a word which those blessed lips have uttered--nor a thought which his loving Word has revealed--which is not to us precious beyond all price. And this is true of the names of Christ--they are all sweet in the believer's ear. Whether he be called the Husband of the Church, her Bridegroom, her Friend; whether he be styled the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world--the King, the Prophet, or the Priest--every title of our Master--Shiloh, Emmanuel, Wonderful, the Mighty Counsellor--every name is like the honeycomb dropping with honey, and luscious are the drops that distil from it. But if there be one name sweeter than another in the believer's ear, it is the name of Jesus. Jesus! it is the name which moves the harps of heaven to melody. Jesus! the life of all our joys. If there be one name more charming, more precious than another, it is this name. It is woven into the very warp and woof of our psalmody. Many of our hymns begin with it, and scarcely any, that are good for anything, end without it. It is the sum total of all delights. It is the music with which the bells of heaven ring; a song in a word; an ocean for comprehension, although a drop for brevity; a matchless oratorio in two syllables; a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in five letters.

"Jesus, I love thy charming name,

'Tis music to mine ear."

Daily Light on the Daily Path
John 15:15  "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Genesis 18:17  The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Matthew 13:11  Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

1 Corinthians 2:10  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:7  but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

Psalm 65:4  How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

Psalm 25:14  The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.

John 17:8  for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

John 15:14  "You are My friends if you do what I command you.

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.

Evening February 7
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