Bible Reading: Esther 6-10
Esther 6:6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Haman had several problems. One of them was hate.
Esther 3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
It reminds me of some in our day who hate and want entire groups of people to be destroyed. To write off an entire group of people is demonic.
Haman also thought too much of himself. He was so self absorbed that when the king asked what should be done to someone the king wanted to honor, his immediate thought in his heart was of himself.
The Bible teaches us:
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
God's Word also tells us:
Proverbs 28:26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
It is an incredible sense of irony that Haman had to honor Mordecai seeing that his presence at the palace that day was to ask the king's permission to have Mordecai killed! All his boasting and bragging before his family brought an incredible sense of shame as he paraded Mordecai through the streets!
The Bible says:
Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Haman's pride brought him incredible shame as he led the king's horse honoring Mordecai. His hatred turned back upon him too as he was hanged on the gallows he had built. Run from pride! Run from hatred! Don't think too highly of yourself. Humble yourself before God and he will lift you up.
In Christ,
Rody
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Consider your ways
Bible Reading: Haggai 1-2
Haggai 1:3-7 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses,
and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
The reason Cyrus allow many of the Jews to return to Israel was so they could rebuild the temple. They began to build but they ran into difficulty. The work stopped and soon the people were in danger of forgetting their purpose.
Any kind of building will bring difficulties. However, God says that he was allowing loss in their lives to get them to consider their ways. They were not bringing in the kind of harvest they expected. They were not satisfied. They were not warm. Their wages went into a bag with holes. God did this to get their attention.
As I read this, I cannot help but think of the church of Jesus Christ. Many times the church lies in waste and the Christians live in their 'cieled houses'. I do not mean the building. Many times the building is in good repair but there is no evangelism. There is no discipleship. Many times the church is merely a social club. The house of God lies waste because the Word of God is not preached.
I believe God is saying to us today, "Consider your ways." There are disciples to make. The Word of God must be preached. The gospel must be spread. Just as Haggai was used of God to stir the spirit of Joshua and Zerubbabel, he is stirring our spirits today to rise up and build the house of God.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
There is work to do. We must rise up and build!
In Christ,
Rody
Haggai 1:3-7 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses,
and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
The reason Cyrus allow many of the Jews to return to Israel was so they could rebuild the temple. They began to build but they ran into difficulty. The work stopped and soon the people were in danger of forgetting their purpose.
Any kind of building will bring difficulties. However, God says that he was allowing loss in their lives to get them to consider their ways. They were not bringing in the kind of harvest they expected. They were not satisfied. They were not warm. Their wages went into a bag with holes. God did this to get their attention.
As I read this, I cannot help but think of the church of Jesus Christ. Many times the church lies in waste and the Christians live in their 'cieled houses'. I do not mean the building. Many times the building is in good repair but there is no evangelism. There is no discipleship. Many times the church is merely a social club. The house of God lies waste because the Word of God is not preached.
I believe God is saying to us today, "Consider your ways." There are disciples to make. The Word of God must be preached. The gospel must be spread. Just as Haggai was used of God to stir the spirit of Joshua and Zerubbabel, he is stirring our spirits today to rise up and build the house of God.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
There is work to do. We must rise up and build!
In Christ,
Rody
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Because he is good
Bible Reading: Ezra 1-3
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
After seventy years of captivity, God raised up Cyrus the Persian to permit the Jews to return to Israel and build the temple that the Babylonians had torn down. God had promised them through the prophet Jeremiah that he would not forget them, but after their time of chastening, he would return them to their land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
God promised them that he would gather them and now he was doing just that! When they had laid the foundation of the house of God, they sang praise to the Lord. They praised him for his goodness and his mercy. God always keeps his promises.
Have you had an experience like this lately? Have you seen God's faithfulness and mercy and been overwhelmed with a sense of praise for his goodness? I hope so. As I write this morning, it is raining outside. Praise Jesus for answering prayers! Maybe he has provided for you financially. Maybe he has reconciled a relationship. Maybe he has touched your body and brought healing. Maybe had has opened someone's heart that you know to receive his Word. There are so many things that Jesus is doing in this world. Let's praise him because he is good and his mercy endures forever! His grace is amazing and his love is overwhelming!
In Christ,
Rody
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
After seventy years of captivity, God raised up Cyrus the Persian to permit the Jews to return to Israel and build the temple that the Babylonians had torn down. God had promised them through the prophet Jeremiah that he would not forget them, but after their time of chastening, he would return them to their land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
God promised them that he would gather them and now he was doing just that! When they had laid the foundation of the house of God, they sang praise to the Lord. They praised him for his goodness and his mercy. God always keeps his promises.
Have you had an experience like this lately? Have you seen God's faithfulness and mercy and been overwhelmed with a sense of praise for his goodness? I hope so. As I write this morning, it is raining outside. Praise Jesus for answering prayers! Maybe he has provided for you financially. Maybe he has reconciled a relationship. Maybe he has touched your body and brought healing. Maybe had has opened someone's heart that you know to receive his Word. There are so many things that Jesus is doing in this world. Let's praise him because he is good and his mercy endures forever! His grace is amazing and his love is overwhelming!
In Christ,
Rody
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