2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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ASHAMED OF YOUR FAITH?
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24
Esther 2:10-11
Matthew 10:29-33
"…whosoever shall be ashamed of me
and of my words, of him
shall the Son of man be ashamed..."
ASHAMED OF YOUR FAITH?
As instructed by Mordecai, Esther did not reveal her Jewish identity. Various speculations have been offered as to the reasons. Some felt that they had lived in a foreign land for too long and had lost the sense of the importance of their testimony as God’s chosen people. Others postulated that there was rising unhappiness against the Jews. Another view was that Mordecai simply wanted Esther to be chosen and keeping secret her ethnic background as a slave of the Persian kingdom would help her chances. Others felt Mordecai did it for self-promotion.
Based on Ezra 4:6, it could be a combination of all these reasons. It is plausible that the current complaints against the Jews sent by the Samaritans to Ahasuerus would be adverse to Esther. And since it was unlikely that Mordecai was afraid to be known as a Jew because he did not hide it from Haman (Esther 3:4), then it would stand that his concern was mainly for Esther. And because Mordecai later did ask Esther to reveal her Jewish identity to the king (Esther 4:8), it seemed that Mordecai’s concern then was for Esther to be chosen. Could it not be that, with the complaints against the Jews, Mordecai hoped for Esther to represent her people to the king one day?
But regardless of the situation, there was no excuse for Mordecai and Esther to conceal her identity. We must never imagine that hiding our Christian identity will help God’s cause. We must also never deny Christ (Matt 10:33) even when we think that our well-being is under threat. Our problem is our fear that God cannot deliver us. But God can. Daniel never hid his faith from the kings when in exile in Babylon, neither did the first Jewish returnees under the Persian king. While God in His Sovereignty overrules and brings good though men choose to sin, it does not make our sinning right. In fact, through how God circumvents the dire circumstances against His people and prevents disaster, it only shows His Omniscience and Omnipotence.
THOUGHT: Do I hide my Christian faith from man?
PRAYER: Lord, help me never to deny Thee.
Posted in Adult RPG
Esther 2:10-11
Matthew 10:29-33
"…whosoever shall be ashamed of me
and of my words, of him
shall the Son of man be ashamed..."
ASHAMED OF YOUR FAITH?
As instructed by Mordecai, Esther did not reveal her Jewish identity. Various speculations have been offered as to the reasons. Some felt that they had lived in a foreign land for too long and had lost the sense of the importance of their testimony as God’s chosen people. Others postulated that there was rising unhappiness against the Jews. Another view was that Mordecai simply wanted Esther to be chosen and keeping secret her ethnic background as a slave of the Persian kingdom would help her chances. Others felt Mordecai did it for self-promotion.
Based on Ezra 4:6, it could be a combination of all these reasons. It is plausible that the current complaints against the Jews sent by the Samaritans to Ahasuerus would be adverse to Esther. And since it was unlikely that Mordecai was afraid to be known as a Jew because he did not hide it from Haman (Esther 3:4), then it would stand that his concern was mainly for Esther. And because Mordecai later did ask Esther to reveal her Jewish identity to the king (Esther 4:8), it seemed that Mordecai’s concern then was for Esther to be chosen. Could it not be that, with the complaints against the Jews, Mordecai hoped for Esther to represent her people to the king one day?
But regardless of the situation, there was no excuse for Mordecai and Esther to conceal her identity. We must never imagine that hiding our Christian identity will help God’s cause. We must also never deny Christ (Matt 10:33) even when we think that our well-being is under threat. Our problem is our fear that God cannot deliver us. But God can. Daniel never hid his faith from the kings when in exile in Babylon, neither did the first Jewish returnees under the Persian king. While God in His Sovereignty overrules and brings good though men choose to sin, it does not make our sinning right. In fact, through how God circumvents the dire circumstances against His people and prevents disaster, it only shows His Omniscience and Omnipotence.
THOUGHT: Do I hide my Christian faith from man?
PRAYER: Lord, help me never to deny Thee.
Posted in Adult RPG