Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 2 | Day 3
Prayer
Take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. This helps you be more present and aware. Ask God to open your eyes to what He wants to teach you today from His Word.
Bible Reading: Philippians 2:1-11
Read these verses three times slowly.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Reflection & Questions
In Esther 1, we’ve met King Xerxes, a power-tripping king who thinks he should have what he wants, whenever he wants it.
In Philippians 2, we see how vastly different Jesus is. Instead of power grabbing, “he made himself nothing.” Instead of showing off his glory, “he humbled himself.” Instead of throwing his weight around, he became “obedient to death on a cross.”
If we claim to follow Jesus, and if we have benefitted from Him, then Paul says, we should be the same way as him. He says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
- What amazes you about Jesus’ attitude? Let your imagination run a little with what it cost Him in order to leave heaven, and come to earth to save us.
- List the names of the people you are going to talk with today or tomorrow. How could you consider them above yourself and value them?
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 with no devices to distract you. Take three deep breaths. Stay still and quiet for 30 seconds. Ask God for His help to read and understand.
Bible Reading: Esther 1:10-12, 19
Read these verses three times slowly.
On the seventh day Xerxes was in a good mood because he had drunk a lot of wine. So he gave a command to the seven officials who served him. King Xerxes told them to bring Queen Vashti to him. He wanted her to come wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and nobles. She was lovely to look at. The attendants told Queen Vashti what the king had ordered her to do. But she refused to come. So the king became very angry.
His advisors told him, “So if it pleases you, send out a royal order. Let it be written down in the laws of Persia and Media. Those laws can never be changed. Let the royal order say that Vashti can never see you again. Also let her position as queen be given to someone who is better than she is,” and he did what they said.
Reflection & Questions
Have you ever done something that got you into BIG trouble? Our behavior always has consequences, whether it’s good or bad. Sometimes our teachers or parents give us consequences, but other times the consequences just happen because of what we did.
King Xerxes and Queen Vashti made some choices and had to live with the consequences. We know what Xerxes’ behavior was like. He was showing off and trying to get people to do what he wanted. In today’s reading, he was really bossy to Queen Vashti. His behavior caused problems with her. She refused to come when he told her to, and he decided to punish her for it.
Their relationship was broken, and they did not plan to fix it. We all do things that cause problems in our relationships. We might disobey our parents or get bossy with our brothers and sisters. God wants us to let Him help us to have good relationships. When we do things that cause problems, he wants us to apologize and make it right. God can help us mend broken relationships.
- Think about a time when your behavior caused a problem. What did you do to make it right?
- Have you ever had to apologize to a friend, a brother, or a sister for how you treated them?
- Is there anyone that you still need to apologize to? Plan a time to apologize and make it right. (Right now, if you can!)
Pray
Thank God He forgives us and wants to help us have good relationships. Ask Him to help you treat other people with respect. Ask Him to help you if there is someone with whom you need to repair a relationship.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
