June 20, 2006 - Esther 1-2 and Acts 5:1-21
Esther is very different from most of the other books in the Bible. It teaches some wonderful truths, but they are taught in a more indirect fashion. I believe the theme of the book of Esther is favor. This is an important word. The Bible talks about Jesus having favor with God and with men. It means to be accepted for the right reasons. Think about this concept as you read the passages today.
Esther 1 and 2 tell us how Queen Vashti did not find favor with the king, but Esther did have his favor. The king was upset with Vashti because she did not obey his request for her to come to his feast. She was probably leary of going to the drunken feast, but we are not told exactly why she refused. She was deposed as queen to show all the women of Persia that a wife should not refuse to submit to her husband. I believe the Persians did not have a Biblical view of submission, but it is interesting to see the importance they placed on it, as the Bible does, too. However, this problem allowed Esther to find favor with the king, and she became the queen of Persia. What do you think about that? An orphan Jewish girl became the queen of Persia. How likely is that? Well, it is not likely at all, but it shows how God can grant favor to anyone to work His purposes. Do you believe God can do the same for you, so that you can be a witness or an influence for His kingdom? I hope you realize God can grant you this type of favor as you follow Him.
In Acts 5 we read about Ananias and Saphira's sin against the Holy Spirit. They did not find favor with God or men. They too were used as an example, so others would not fall into this sin. They both were killed by God. That is the opposite of finding favor with God, isn't it? We must all be aware that if we fall into the disfavor of God, He might remove us from this world. It does not mean that Ananias and Saphira were not believers, but they had become a huge liability to the cause of Christ, so God had to remove them.
As we read further in the chapter we are told that the people of Jerusalem held the Christians in high esteem. They found favor in their eyes because of their way of life. (v.13) It led multitudes to accept Christ while some did not know what to think. The Sadducees did not receive the believers with favor, because they felt threatened, but the majority of the people realized that the Christians were different in a good way. That is how it should be with us today. People should be drawn to Christ through our lives. We should pray to live in such a way that we would find favor with God and men.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Esther 3-5 and Acts 5:22-42.
Esther 1 and 2 tell us how Queen Vashti did not find favor with the king, but Esther did have his favor. The king was upset with Vashti because she did not obey his request for her to come to his feast. She was probably leary of going to the drunken feast, but we are not told exactly why she refused. She was deposed as queen to show all the women of Persia that a wife should not refuse to submit to her husband. I believe the Persians did not have a Biblical view of submission, but it is interesting to see the importance they placed on it, as the Bible does, too. However, this problem allowed Esther to find favor with the king, and she became the queen of Persia. What do you think about that? An orphan Jewish girl became the queen of Persia. How likely is that? Well, it is not likely at all, but it shows how God can grant favor to anyone to work His purposes. Do you believe God can do the same for you, so that you can be a witness or an influence for His kingdom? I hope you realize God can grant you this type of favor as you follow Him.
In Acts 5 we read about Ananias and Saphira's sin against the Holy Spirit. They did not find favor with God or men. They too were used as an example, so others would not fall into this sin. They both were killed by God. That is the opposite of finding favor with God, isn't it? We must all be aware that if we fall into the disfavor of God, He might remove us from this world. It does not mean that Ananias and Saphira were not believers, but they had become a huge liability to the cause of Christ, so God had to remove them.
As we read further in the chapter we are told that the people of Jerusalem held the Christians in high esteem. They found favor in their eyes because of their way of life. (v.13) It led multitudes to accept Christ while some did not know what to think. The Sadducees did not receive the believers with favor, because they felt threatened, but the majority of the people realized that the Christians were different in a good way. That is how it should be with us today. People should be drawn to Christ through our lives. We should pray to live in such a way that we would find favor with God and men.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Esther 3-5 and Acts 5:22-42.