(Read Esther 4)
Often, I find myself engaged in a fierce battle against thoughts that arrogantly claim my superiority over others. I am well aware that those thoughts are nothing more than deceptive whispers. They stand in direct opposition to the very essence of Jesus Christ abiding within me. There are moments when I foolishly allow myself to fall into the trap of seeing myself as a righteous Christian while casting judgment on others as sinful atheists. How ironic! The truth is, we are all flawed, sinful beings desperately in need of redemption. I heard recently that when Jesus walked the earth, Jewish men would audaciously offer prayers of gratitude, thanking God that they were not born as women or gentiles. They reveled in the elevated status and privileges granted to them by their culture. Jesus’ mission shattered this entire belief system. The ground beneath their self-righteous feet shook as Jesus turned their world upside down, challenging their pride and revealing that true worth lies in the transformative power of love and grace.
I started rereading the Bible cover-to-cover last year and just finished the Old Testament. I’m now in the New Testament, and I’ve noticed a few lines in Matthew 5 that are not as subtle as they may seem at first glance.
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends[s], how are you different from anyone else?
Matthew 5:44-47
In these verses, Jesus challenges his listeners to go beyond the traditional norms of loving only those who love them back. He emphasizes the importance of loving even those who oppose and mistreat them. This was radical teaching for those times and even for our time. It reflects the power of God’s unconditional love. We’re encouraged to respond to hostile attacks with love and blessings. That’s not an easy task. Rather than retaliating or seeking revenge, Jesus wants us to bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who mistreat us. This approach breaks the cycle of violence and hatred, demonstrating a higher way of living.
OK, what verse(s) stood out to me? “For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” Did God use invisible ink all these years? All of a sudden, He revealed it to me. When we get full of ourselves, thinking we’re better, more righteous, and holier than others, Jesus tells us we’re not. By loving our enemies, Jesus says we will become “sons of your Father in heaven.” This means that we embody the character of God, who extends His love and blessings to both the righteous and the unrighteous. Just as God’s creation experiences the sun and rain impartially, without discrimination, so should we, as his followers, demonstrate love and kindness to all people.
God loves all his creatures, even those who sin against him. Loving our enemies is a command, not a suggestion. By doing so, we imitate God the Father, as earthly children imitate their fathers. Jesus describes imitating the Father as a way of becoming one of His children.
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 your royal position for such a time as this?”
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:14-16
Persian king Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I, ruled the Persian Empire in the 5th century BC. After deposing his queen, Vashti, he searched for a new queen. In his quest for a new queen, Xerxes conducted a beauty contest, and Esther was chosen due to her exceptional beauty.
Esther kept her Jewish identity hidden from Xerxes. Her cousin Mordecai discovered a court official’s (Haman) plot to assassinate the king, which he revealed to Esther. Esther intervened, and the plot was thwarted.
Like Esther, we were made for moments like this. What if we have an opportunity to act in a way that will bless or save people? It doesn’t have to be a physical rescue; sometimes, it’s sharing the Gospel with someone unfamiliar with it. Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking someone questions about their beliefs. Had Esther remained silent, she would have missed an opportunity to save thousands of her Jewish community. Either way, Esther was imitating her Heavenly Father by putting herself out there despite the risk, following Godly wisdom, and following the righteous path.
A close friend is going through some relapse anger issues nearly two years after losing his wife. His healing will take him the rest of his life. Right now, he’s stuck on some incidents going on within our county. I urged him to keep the main thing the main thing. He said, “I know, but I feel that it affects our community, and I care about making things better, doing what’s right.” His emotions have gotten the better of him. “Don’t let this anger poison you,” I suggested. “I’m already there,” he replied.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
God has a purpose for each of us. He calls us to do something special for Him, so we should trust He is with us, even when facing our most difficult challenges. We can use our challenges to make a difference in the world. I didn’t ease my friend’s angry sorrow, but our talk lifted him. “Thanks for the call, buddy. It was good talking with you,” he closed the call with.
We can’t right the ills in the world, but we can right ourselves. Not being able to fix the world shouldn’t mean we can’t make someone else’s world better. Each of our lives intersects with opportunities. God wants us to live by the compass rather than the clock (a Stephen Covey-ism). That means taking advantage of what God puts in front of us. With every opportunity we get, if we don’t use it to share our love, to shine God’s light on others, we’re missing out on a chance to give God glory.
Despite the personal danger, Esther risked everything for the love of God and her kin. Her actions remind us that God is always at work to bring about His purposes, large and small — and uses us to accomplish them. Esther made a difference by standing up for what she believed, trusting that God would work through her. Most of us won’t be called to do what Esther did, but we are called to make a difference.
Mark Twain wrote, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in spite of it.” No matter our limitations, God will give us the courage to do what He set us out to do. God’s perfection provides us with the power to do both routine and bold things for Him.
God’s book says that the sun and rain fall on all His creation, no matter who they are, those who love Him and those who don’t even recognize Him. It’s not up to us to question the fairness of this, we need to claim His love, mercy, and grace and take every opportunity to advance His kingdom. We need to be imitators of Him.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Ephesians 5:1
Key Applications:
- Read Matthew 5:44-46. God’s love and provision are not based on our merit. How does this challenge your understanding of God’s grace? Pray that you can extend grace and love to others in your relationships and interactions.
- What does Esther’s statement, “If I perish, I perish,” show about her faith and trust in God? How can you cultivate such inspiring trust in your own life?
- Think about a time when fear held you back from taking necessary action. What did that say about your trust in God? What steps can you take to overcome fear in your current circumstances?
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.