Esther Reading Plan – W1D5
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 1 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank God that you can meet with Him and ask Him to encourage your heart through HIs word today.
Bible Reading: Romans 7:15-25
Read these verses three times slowly.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Reflection & Questions
Paul’s words in Romans probably sound very relatable. Something that Paul helps us see, is that the Christian life isn’t one of complete victory over our brokenness. In fact, just as God is with us on every step of our journey, so is our brokenness. We might actually feel exactly what Paul says: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing…What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”
The Christian life is one of having our eyes opened to our brokenness, of seeing the solution in Jesus, but at the same time continuing to see ourselves fall short daily.
But we don’t live in doom and gloom because of this. No! We live in gratefulness. As Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Jesus doesn’t rescue us once from our brokenness. He rescues us daily. He delivers us again and again and again.
The devil might try to get you down. He might say, “What kind of Christian are you? You’re so broken.” Here’s what you can say right back: “Thank you devil. You reminded me again that I need a savior – and I have one – the Lord Jesus Christ! He’s the one who delivers me. Thanks be to God!”
- Do you resonate with Paul’s writing in ROmans 7? How do you see it showing up in your life?
- Do you allow yourself or the devil to beat you down because of your brokenness? Try today to instead turn those negative thoughts to gratitude to God for rescuing you.
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
Go to your quiet place. When there are no devices around that will distract you, take three deep breaths. Ask God for His help to understand and listen to Him.
Bible Reading: Ezra 1:2-3
Read these verses three times slowly.
Cyrus, the king of Persia, says,
The Lord is the God of heaven. He has given me all the kingdoms on earth. He has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem and build the Lord’s temple. He is the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem. And may their God be with them.
Reflection & Questions
King Cyrus let God’s people go back to Judah! God told Jeremiah that He would help His people come back to Israel and Judah. More than 50 years later, King Cyrus made the decree you just read. How did Jeremiah know? God knew, and He told Jeremiah.
God’s people were now called Jews because they came from Judah. Many Jewish people had been looking forward to this day for many years. They had prayed that they could go home soon. They wanted to fix the temple and worship God in His special place again. Many of them went back to Judah as soon as Cyrus allowed them to.
Some other Jewish people had gotten to know their neighbors. They had homes and jobs and friends where they were. They were not ready to go back to Israel or Judah yet. They had learned that God was still with them. Some worshiped God faithfully even though it was harder in another country with different beliefs. Some of them had just learned to do what their neighbors did. Next week, we will read a story about one family that stayed in Persia. Their names were Mordecai and Esther.
- Have you ever moved? Was it hard?
- How would you feel if you could move away from where you live now? Would you want to go?
- Does God go with you when you move houses?
- Is it hard to worship God in your neighborhood or at your school?
Pray
Thank God for always being with you no matter where you go. Thank Him that He is with us in our schools, homes, athletic events, and everywhere. Ask Him to help you live for Him even when it’s hard.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
