Esther Reading Plan – W10D4
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 10 | Day 4
Prayer
As you begin your time with God, where you are sitting or standing, put out your hands with your palm facing up. Ask God to speak to you from His word; to give you encouragement and strength for this day.
Bible Reading: Colossians 3:1-11
Read these verses three times slowly.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Reflection & Questions
This week we read of how Mordecai and the Jews were overflowing with joy in their new freedom, but how they also needed to eradicate the dangers they faced. In our reading today, Paul addresses Christians like us and says there are things we are to put to death – things that will endanger our walking with Christ.
He says we are to put to death sexual immorality, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying. And when he says “put to death”, he doesn’t mean tolerate them or keep them as a hobby for weekends, or lock them up for a “bad day”. He means to put them to death. Starve them out of your life. It might not be easy, but Paul gives us lots of truths to hold on to: you have eternal life, the wrath of God is coming, you are new, you have a relationship with the Creator, you are a part of God’s chosen people, you are holy and dearly loved. We’re to live in the new life that Jesus has given us and that means eradicating our old ways. Tomorrow we will read about things we are to “put on” as Christians.
- What reasons that Paul gives for putting sin to death resonate with you today?
- Which of the sins that Paul mentions do you need to put to death in your life? What steps do you need to take? Celebrate Recovery is a great resource to help you in dealing with hurts, habits and hangups. Find out more about CR at crossroadsgrace.org/cr.
Prayer
Pray in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Prepare to Meet with Jesus
Find a quiet place to read and pray. Make sure there are no devices around that will distract you. Pray and ask God to help you concentrate. Ask Him to help you understand what you read.
Bible Reading: Esther 8:11-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
The Jews in every city could now gather together and fight for their lives. The king’s order gave them that right. But suppose soldiers from any nation or territory attacked them, their women or children. Then the Jews could destroy, kill and wipe out those soldiers. They could also take the goods that belonged to their enemies. A day was appointed for the Jews to do that in all the king’s territories. It was the 13th day of the 12th month. That was the month of Adar. A copy of the order was sent out as law in every territory. It was announced to the people of every nation. So the Jews would be ready on that day. They could pay back their enemies. The messengers rode on the royal horses. They raced along. That’s what the king commanded them to do. The order was also sent out in the fort of Susa.
Reflection & Questions
King Xerxes has given power to the Jews. This is great news! They still had some work and prep to do so that they could defeat themselves, but they now had the king’s support!
Imagine walking up to a bully and standing up to them, knowing that you have a bunch of strong friends behind you. That’s what it must have felt like to the Jews. We can also feel that way when we are facing scary things because we have God behind us to give us strength and courage.
We might not always feel brave all by ourselves, but we always have God right next to us helping us as we do tough things. He might give you the words to say or a friend to stand by your side. He might send a teacher or another trusted adult to give you advice and to be with you when you need it. God is always with us, if we just ask Him to be.
- Can you think of a time when you have been scared to do something and you felt all alone?
- Have you ever felt that God has been with you when you were scared? What did that feel like?
Pray
When you are afraid, ask God to be with you and to give you courage. Thank him for being your source of bravery and for being with you all the time.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
