Esther Reading Plan – W5D5
Check out all the previous Esther readings here.
Esther Reading Plan | Week 5 | 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 loves you deeply and ask Him to open your ears to what He wants to say to you today.
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-23
Read these verses three times slowly.
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Reflection & Questions
This week, we are reflecting on Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman and seeing how it applies to us in our day.
Yesterday, we read the Apostle Paul’s challenge to “wake up” and live as wise Christians in these evil times. Today’s reading is similar. The Apostle Peter says, “with minds that are alert… do not conform to the evil desires… be holy in all you do.” In other words, Peter and Paul both see that the Christian life is one that takes action and intentionality. It takes thoughtfulness and wisdom. Without this, like the frog in the pan, we will simply conform without even realizing it.
But why should we put such effort into being holy? Peter gives three reasons: (1) Because God is holy and we want to be with Him (2) God judges impartially and we want to be found by Him to be upright and (3) it is the precious blood of Christ that bought our freedom, and to not pursue holiness is to dishonor that sacrifice.
- Which of the three reasons to pursue holiness sticks out to you today? Why?
- Are you pursuing holiness? What is the next step for you in pursuing holiness? If you’re not sure, ask God to guide you and listen for His answer.
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 3:12
Read these verses three times slowly.
The king sent for the royal secretaries. It was the 13th day of the first month. The secretaries wrote down all Haman’s orders. They wrote them down in the writing of each territory in the kingdom. They also wrote them in the language of each nation. The orders were sent to the royal officials and to the governors of the territories. And the orders were also sent to the nobles of the nations. The orders were written in the name of King Xerxes himself. And they were stamped with his own official mark.
Reflection & Questions
Imagine that you’re playing a game of soccer. Suddenly the best player on the other team is also the referee. They play well but now also make all the calls. They start calling everything against your team and nothing against theirs. Your opponent now has all the power in this game! That is how it must have seemed to Mordecai. Haman had permission to make any law he wanted against the Jewish people.
The king helped get things started by getting all the right people there to help Haman make the law. They wrote it in all the different languages of the people that had been taken over by the Persian Empire. Then, they sent it everywhere in the Empire. That meant Haman did not just want to get rid of the Jews in Susa but everywhere in the Empire. The law was even sent to Judah written in their own language.
It sounds like this story will not have a happy ending. But remember what we learned last week? Everything is beautiful in God’s time, and He works in all things for the good of those who love Him. He has been known to protect His people. Will he still protect them even in exile? The God we know does not break His promises. We will have to watch and see how He works in this difficult situation.
- Have you learned anything about God that gives you hope for this situation?
- Are you facing a situation where you need to trust that God has a plan?
Pray
Ask God to show you how to hope in your situation. Thank Him that He is always with us. Thank Him that He works in all situations and makes things beautiful in His time. Ask God to help you share that hope with your friends this week.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
