Today’s reading: Esther 5:9; Matthew 5:13-16
I had intended to blog about Haman and pride today, but I didn’t get past verse 9 because of what it tells us about Mordecai. Perhaps you took notice of it too? Esther 5:9 says:
“And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai” (emphasis mine).
In spite of the horrific edict and the upcoming planned mass killing of the Jewish people, Mordecai remained steadfast in his conviction to only bow to God. Facing a death sentence, Mordecai was able to stand firmly because of his faith and trust in God.
Being a Christ-follower and living according to God’s Word is not popular. And in the present adversarial environment of the world, it’s becoming more and more difficult. So it was good for me to take note of Mordecai’s example of standing strong for God even though he was under intense persecution.
None of us like controversy, so it’s tempting is to tell ourselves it’s okay to step back and keep quiet because we know what we believe in our hearts. But God calls us to be a “light” to a world that needs Him—one that needs to know about His love for each of us regardless of our past, about His forgiveness and offer of salvation, and about His desire for us to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him.
“You are the salt of the earth. . . You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:13-14).
Do the people you regularly interact with know you are a follower of God? How are you representing Christ to the world around you? Will you join me in being intentional about speaking about Christ and showering God’s love on ALL people you encounter, even those who don’t like what you believe and stand for? Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog
