Am I righteous or wicked? Godly or Ungodly?

Meditation from Esther Chapter 8

We will compare and contrast the life of Esther and Haman to understand the attitude and works of the righteous and the wicked, the godly and the ungodly.

1. Evil Intentions or Plans:
Haman made the evil plan to destroy the Jews (3:9a). But Esther wanted to "avert the evil design" (8:3).

The wicked devises evil against someone, but the righteous cannot plan anything evil against anyone. Rather when the righteous knows of an evil plan he or she will
a) Pray for the evil plan to be averted
b) Act upon it, if it's in their influence, to avert it.

This is the attitude and responsibility of the righteous.

How is your heart? How are your intentions?
Do you cry at the news of evil & misfortunes in someone's life or do you rejoice?

2. Right or Wrong Act & Approach:
In order to fulfil his evil agenda, Haman promises to pay huge wealth for the king to send out the decree to destroy the Jews (3:9b).

Haman was bribing to fulfil his evil plans.

Esther had more influence on the king than Haman. Yet she didn't use her influence wrongly.

Second, even though she had influence, she wanted to do the right thing and though she was doing the right thing she wanted the King's approval.

She says to the king,
If it pleases the king...
If I have won his favour...
If the thing seems right...
(If) I have his approval... (8:5)

This shows Esther's right intentions and humble attitude.

How is your attitude, approach and act? Are you trying to fulfil your agenda alone or are you willing to listen to others' perspectives to arrive at the right perspective.

3. Reject or Accept:
Haman reasons out to the king that because the laws of the Jews are different "it is not appropriate for the king to tolerate them" and so they must be destroyed (3:8,9).

But Esther could not bear the calamity that was coming upon the people (8:6).

Are you not able to tolerate someone because he or she is different from you? Different in culture, colour, food habits, language, religion, region (geography), class, etc.?

Do we reject people because of these differences or just tolerate them unwillingly or accept them?

We are called to love our neighbours as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18) and to accept one another (Romans 15:7).

4. Confusion or Joy:
When Haman and the King celebrated, the city of Susa was thrown into confusion (3:15).

But when Esther and Mordecai were honoured, the city of Susa shouted & rejoiced and there was light, gladness, joy and honour (8:15,16).

What does your presence, actions and influence do to the lives of people? Do people rejoice or does it bring confusion?

Corrections apart, our dealings should bring joy to the people. Correction will add grief, but it should restore a person (possible when he or she cooperates).

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2 NRSV

Let our intentions be pure, good & godly and not evil; let us not rejoice over someone's misfortune but pray & help such people; let us do the right thing & be humble to learn other's perspectives and to not reject & not just tolerate but accept people.

Have a blessed day!

Purity that leads to Purpose

Meditation from Nehemiah Chapter 13

God has called us with a Purpose & for His purpose.

Nehemiah establishes work for the priests & levies and just before doing that he says that he cleansed the people (13:30).

We who have been called to the holy & royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5,9) are to be cleansed completely by His blood and through complete submission to His Lordship. Only then we can fulfill the Purpose for which we are called and like Nehemiah we will Provide everything for God's kingdom & His work (13:31).

From what do we need to be cleansed?

1. Ungodly Words & Intentions - Nehemiah says to the people to keep away from the Ammonite & Moabite because they hired Balaam to curse the people of God (13:1,2).

We need to cleanse ourselves from all kinds of unwholesome & ungodly words & intentions. We should only bless others and not curse. Our words should be seasoned with salt of grace (Col 4:6). Our intentions should be pure and pleasing unto God.

2. Discouragement & Selfishness - Tobiah attempted many times to hinder the work. He also used his influence to acquire a place in the temple and to use its provision because of his selfishness. (13:4-8).

We should cleanse ourselves from discouraging others, from hindering God's work and from using God's resources with selfish motives.

Even when we correct someone we need to exhort and encourage them.

3. Unfaithfulness - Nehemiah found that the allotted portions of the levites were not distributed and then he gives responsibility to a few people whom he found "faithful" (13:10-13).

We need to cleanse ourselves from all unfaithfulness; especially in handling God's money and resources. We cannot be lethargic.

How well we take care of the resources entrusted to us and the way we properly utilise time and fulfil responsibilities will demonstrate our faithfulness.

4. Unrest - Nehemiah exhorts people about the Sabbath and to not allow anything to compromise with the Sabbath (13:17).

Sabbath is a day of rest - to do away with all our unrest by being rest assured in God's presence. And to rest one's mind and body from all mundane works.

We need to cleanse ourselves from all unrest and should not leave the discipline of resting in God through personal "quiet time" and Sabbath worship.

5. Unequally yoked - Nehemiah warns the people to not get into marital relationship with unbelievers and to not defile oneself like Solomon (13:23-26).

The Bible warns not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14). And to keep one's marriage undefiled (Heb 13:4) meaning to not get into extra marital relationships.

We need to cleanse ourselves from all such relationships so that our relationship with God may be right.

These five areas are powerful enough to derail our life and to make us unfruitful. If we cleanse ourselves by God's word and His blood and are careful, we will be able to fulfil God's purpose and our whole life will be spent for God's kingdom and His glory.

Take time to introspect these and if you need to be cleansed, pray and ask forgiveness and take strong decision. Only one life and let it not go waste! Let it shine for God's glory!!

Have a blessed day!