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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Devotionals Feb. 18th- 21st

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009 -
ESTHER 2 19-23
Have you ever wondered where you are and why you are there. I have many times. Mordecai sat in the kings gate and heard a plot by two of the king's men to kill the king. Once again Mordecai and Esther were in the places that God desired them to be. They had made a commitment to God, and God had taken that commitment and used it to position them in the place to save the king and the kingdom.
Mordecai, after hearing the plot told Esther and Esther told the king and the plot was overthrown and the two traitors were hanged and Esther was endeared that much more in the heart of the king. God continues to work and position his people where He desires. If you are in the center of God's will you are where you are suppose to be, doing what He desires you to do. Don't question the shy's of God, simply do what God wants you to do, where He wants you to do it.
In this instance, Mordecai what where he was at the time he was to expose the wrong motives and actions of the traitors. God in his wisdom have his children to cry out against the sins of the people and to warn them of their destination, if they continue on the path of destruction.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2009 -
ESTHER 3:7-13
Times have changed but people remain the same. Their lusts, their prejudice, their desires for wealth and power all remain consistent from generation to generation. In today's devotional Haman, an enemy of the Jews, goes to the king to obtain the permission and the funds to destroy, what Haman describes to the King, his greatest enemies. He received the Kings permission and the funds necessary and Haman set out to rid the empire of all of the enemies, the Jews, of the King.
God however had a huge surprise for Haman. Mordecai had advised Esther not to reveal her heritage, and unknown to Haman, and unknown to the King himself, Esther was a Jew. Once again, God had his servants in the exact place at the exact time. What a surprise Haman was about to receive. As the old time radio character, Chester Riley, use to say, "What a revoltin' development this is."

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009 -
ESTHER 4:1-3, 9-17
I am 59 years old. And in all of my life I have never faced the things that we are facing today. We have had the tough times, I grew up very poor, was born during the Korean conflict, was a teenager during the Viet Nam war and served in the military during that time. I remember being spat upon because of the uniform that I proudly wore, and would still wear it proudly if any thing other than the hat fit. But in all honesty I fear more for our country today than I have at any other time. There are many reasons and I will not take the time to expound upon these points at this time.
During this time the Jews were greatly frightened. Why? Because of the order sent by the King and the works of Haman. What they did not know was the plan of God and the positioning of Gods people. Even in the worst of times, God is still on the throne. He is always a step ahead and always in control.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009 -
ESTHER 7:1-10
Haman, bound and determined to slay all the Jews and Mordecai, built the gallows to hang Mordecai. Now, stop and think about this.
Haman needed permission to slay the Jews. Granted! Haman needed the funds to go throughout the kingdom to spread the word that the Jews were going to die. Granted! I think that he enjoyed watching the Jews weep and cry because of their doom. He has won. He has the power, the authority, the wealth, the permission, the backing of the king, to destroy this hated people. Nothing, but nothing stood in his way. Off to the banquet. The King is there. Haman is there. And of course the Queen is there. What a great time Haman is having. Tomorrow, Mordecai, the Jew, dies on the gallows that have been built just for that purpose.
The King turns to his Queen and asks her a simple question. "What is thy petition?"The Queen, now remember this is the Goens translation, says "King, do you love me?""yes" said the King. "But King, do you reeealllllyyyyy love me?" "YES" replied the King. "Then why are you going to allow someone to destroy me and my people?" "WHAT?" shouted the King. "Tell me who it is and I will destroy them!" Would you not have loved to have been in the room to see the look on Haman's face! It was not the beauty of the Queen that saved her people. It was the God of heaven that put her in the right position at the right time. You are here for a reason, right where you are. Do what God wants you to do and be thankful for the grace, mercy and direction of our Lord.

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