Tuesday May 5, 2020

Esther 2:19-23

19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

When you tell your story, does it start with you? Your big breaks. The opportunities you seized. That time disaster didn’t happen when all the signs said it should. The advice you were given that is still informing your life. God sends us helpers. We cannot make ourselves. As much responsibility as we are given, it is never strictly ours and ours alone. Our Helper, the Holy Spirit is with us, leading and empowering us. The church is a body with many members who co-labor together. We build each other up. I cannot begin to tell my story without mentioning God first and His supernatural grace. He has sent so many people into my life who formed me into the person I am today and the person I am still becoming. Who I am is attributed to God and the servants he has sent to help me.

Esther has never forgotten where she comes from nor who raised her. It’s Mordecai, not Esther, who discovered the plot against the king. Mordecai is wise to know this is a way for Esther’s voice to be heard and trusted. She can get word to the king quickly. We’re not told that Mordecai needed or wanted credit for the discovery. Esther gives Mordecai credit because that’s the truth. There is love and trust between them. Esther is showing what real power and leadership looks like. Esther hasn’t gotten to this position on her own. Who are the people God has placed in your life at critical moments? Who are the ones who daily help you live in God’s love and live life to the fullest? Are there people you haven’t acknowledged or overlooked? Maybe there is someone with whom God wants you to say “thank you” today. Who might that be?

Heavenly Father, though sorrow and trouble come our way, though we endure the sting of failure and defeat, though we spend years waiting for a breakthrough, it is only a night. Joy comes in the morning. Your light breaks through the darkness and we are made new. Thank you Jesus. Your love never fails. Help us to love each other as you have loved us. May the works of our hands make mercy and justice and words of our mouths speak grace and truth. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory before all ages, now, and forevermore. Amen