Esther Reading Plan – W5D3
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 5 | 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. Thank God that He was willing to pay the ultimate price to save you.
Bible Reading: John 10:7-18
Read these verses three times slowly.
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Reflection & Questions
This week we read of Haman’s evil plan to wipe out God’s people. This was the work of an evil man, inspired by the evil one. The reality is that today that same evil one is still working on his mission to bring down God’s people. As Jesus says in today’s reading, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
If Haman’s evilness is baffling, Jesus’ goodness is mind-blowing. Jesus tells us that he is the “good shepherd”, who “lays down his life for the sheep”. He says, “I know my sheep” and “I lay down [my life] down of my own accord.” And why does He do this? “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
So Haman’s goal was death. Jesus’ goal was life. Haman raged when Mordecai wouldn’t bow. When we ignored and rebelled, Jesus laid down his life. Haman wanted honor at any cost. Jesus gave up his honor, even though it cost him everything, for the life of His people.
- How do you see the evil one at work today trying to “steal and kill and destroy”?
- As you think about your attitude and actions towards others, are you living like Jesus or Haman?
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 a deep breath. Blow it out slowly. Do that again. And do it one last time. Ask God for His help to read and understand.
Bible Reading: Esther 3:5-6
Read these verses three times slowly.
Haman noticed that Mordecai wouldn’t get down on his knees. He wouldn’t give Haman any honor. So Haman was very angry. But he had found out who Mordecai’s people were. So he didn’t want to get rid of only Mordecai. He also looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people. They were Jews. He wanted to get rid of all of them everywhere in the kingdom of Xerxes.
Reflection & Questions
Have you ever been so angry with someone that you want to hurt them somehow? Have you ever been angry enough to want to hurt their brother or sister too? How about their parents? You would have to be very angry with someone to want to hurt their whole family. (I hope you have never had a reason to be that angry!)
When Haman found out, he was so mad that he wanted to get rid of all the Jewish people. It could be because Mordecai made him so angry, or he could have learned to be an enemy of the Jews early in his life, and now he realized that Mordecai was a Jew. It makes a little more sense that he may have been against the Jews already.
Unfortunately, there have been people throughout history who have been against God’s people. It started with the Jews. After Jesus came, there have been times and places in the world where powerful people are against Christians too. In the United States, there are laws against harming people just because of their race or their religion. But in some countries, there are not.
- Have you ever disliked someone because they were different than you? Did you feel good about that?
- Has anyone ever disliked you because you are somehow different?
- God loves everyone. He wants us to love everyone. Is there any person that is not part of everyone?
Pray
Thank God that He loves you. Thank Him that He loves everyone. Ask Him to help you love everyone.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
