MARCH 9

Esther 2: 8-9

ESTHER WAS DIFFERENT

Many young and beautiful women in the empire were brought to the king’s house in Shushan. It must have been a full house! The guardian of  the house was Hegai, one of the king’s o cers. His job was to ensure every woman was given top beauty products and treatment, so that at the end of 12 months, she would be able to look her best before the king.

Hegai had a difficult job. There were so many women competing for his attention! Perhaps they hoped to get better treatment from the rest, to increase their chances of becoming queen. But there was something remarkably different about Esther that made Hegai notice her. This caused Hegai to be pleased with Esther and to treat her with kindness. What was different about Esther?

Esther didn’t behave like the other women. Her meek and quiet spirit shined forth brightly. Esther’s physical beauty was made all the more attractive because of her inner beauty.

What about you? In a big crowd of many, can others see the difference in you? In school there may be peer pressure to compete for better results, or to perform the best in a sport. There’s nothing wrong with healthy competition. But if we become obsessed with being better, and start to put others down, or think about how to gain an unfair advantage over them, that is wrong.

Without Esther looking for it, Hegai gave her all the beauty products immediately. He also gave her the best room in the house to stay in, with 7 maid-servants at her beck and call. What can we learn from this? Christians need not buy the favour of men through cheating, bribery, gifts or flattery. It is how you live and conduct your life, that others can tell and admire the difference. When we live for God, He may also grant us the favour of men.

Do you dare to be di erent if that is necessary? Or are you like the rest of the kids? Do you dare to befriend someone unattractive, or new in class? Do you dare to tell the truth even if others told you to just "forget it"? Do you get angry or jealous easily, as other kids may be when you see mum or dad showering gifts on your sibling? Do you always want to be first, or do you dare to be different and give way to others?

Thought: Dare to be different for Jesus!
Prayer: Father in Heaven, set my affection on things above. Help me not to be conformed to this world, but to live differently according to Your Word, that Christ may be glorified. Amen.