Esther Reading Plan – W4D5
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 4 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank God that He is always truthful and never lies – that is He is completely trustworthy.
Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:25
Read these verses three times slowly.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Reflection & Questions
While we may never have been involved in a plot to kill a king (like the men who wanted to off King Xerxes), it is quite likely that we have lied and to a greater or lesser degree betrayed someone. Our actions have caused needless pain and heartache. This is not how we as followers of King Jesus are to be.
He is an honest King. He has never lied. Never betrayed. He is always faithful, always true. And so Paul tells his readers in Ephesians 4, “speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” We aren’t to lie to each other. We aren’t to betray one another. We aren’t to gossip or slander. We are to speak truthfully to each other with utmost love and respect. For we are one body in Christ.
- Is there someone you have lied to and/or betrayed? What do you need to do about it?
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. Listen as you stay still and quiet for 30 seconds. Ask God for His help to read and understand. Read today’s verse to yourself three times slowly.
Bible Reading: Romans 8:28
Read these verses three times slowly.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
Reflection & Questions
Have you ever had a really good day? What was it like? Have you ever wished that you could have a good day every day? Sometimes people think trusting God will make every day a good day. It doesn’t really work like that.
So, what does it mean that God works for the good? It’s important that we look at the words right before, which say, “in all things.” In all things means, in good things and in bad things, God works for our good. There was a guy named Joseph in the Bible whose brothers sold him into slavery. That was a REALLY bad thing. Later, he became one of the top rulers of the country (Egypt) they sold him to, which was good.
Joseph ended up saving many, many people from starving during a famine, including his own family. Much later, when he and his brothers talked about everything that had happened, he told them, “You planned to harm me. But God planned it for good. He planned to do what is now being done. He wanted to save many lives.” This is how God works for good in EVERYTHING.
Try memorizing the verse we read today. It is a verse that can bring you hope in difficult situations.
Pray:
- Bad things in our lives can still hurt us. Does it give you hope to know that God can use them for good in your life?
- Are you going through something hard right now? Have you gone through something hard in the past? God can use it for good.
Pray
Ask God to use the hard things in your life for good. Ask Him to show you the good when the time is right. Thank Him that He is always with you. Thank Him for working out good through history to bring us Jesus.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
