What can be accomplished if you keep doing what is right and persevere to love and serve others?
Finishing the book of Esther this morning and being overwhelmed by the persistent and resilient faith of both Mordechai and Esther.
Haman had tricked the king into creating an edict to kill all the Jews, and by the end of the story, Haman and his sons were killed, and the Jews were given the right to defend themselves.
Esther 8:11
The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves.
The Jews fought back and defeated many enemies, but look at this:
Esther 9:10
But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
A celebration was called for, and even today, 2400 years later, the Jews still celebrate the feast of Purim.
Esther 9:21-22
… to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.
Esther and Mordechai were honoured.
Esther 10:3
Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
Why were they honoured? What leads to the redemption of others?
“because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.”
What are we living for? What is our purpose? Why should we stand up in the midst of opposition and risk our lives, comfort, and safety?
Working for the good of others and speaking up for others’ welfare is a good start.
