Monday, June 13, 2011

Ambassadors For Christ

King James Bible Study Daily Devotional

**** The daily Bible reading schedule has been changed as follows: Each day will include the Proverb and Psalm of the day, Scripture reading will remain in Chronological order from Genesis to Revelation (except Psalms & Proverbs) on Monday thru Saturday, Sunday's reading will only be the Proverb and Psalm of the day. ****

Message Title: Ambassadors For Christ
Date: Monday June 13, 2011
Chapters: Esther 1-4
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-june-13
Details of Today's Chapters: King Ahasuerus, Vashti is dethroned as queen, Esther is made queen, the conspiracy of Haman, forging the kings name to make a decree to destroy all Jews, fasting among the Jews, and Esther’s resolution to defeat the decree.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:14-16.

An ambassador is defined as a minister of the highest rank employed by one prince or state, at the court of another, to manage the public concerns of his own prince or state, and representing the power and dignity of his sovereign. As ambassadors for Christ we are employed by Jesus Christ Himself, we are His ministers to the lost. Therefore, we need to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world, being the example that Christ wants us to me.

The Book of Esther is the seventeenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains ten chapters. The author of the book is Mordecai and it was originally written to the Israelites who where in Persia (Babylon). The time line for these events took place approximately 521 BC to 509 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue showing the history of Israelites in captivity and to recount the divine care God has for His people. What we are to learn from the book is that God uses all people to serve Him in some way, but prepares His people to be witnesses and blessings to others in similar circumstances to help them overcome them. “For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.” - Esther 10:3.

Vashti was queen to Ahasuerus, we do not know much about her other than she was beautiful, but we learn of something else about her, she would not disgrace herself, even for her husband. When the king wanted to show off her beauty to a bunch of men, she refused.

“When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;..On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.” - Esther 1:4,5,10-12.

Vashti was not about to go against her morals and because of that she was later dethroned, we are going to face many challenges, men and women alike that will try to get us to go against our morals and many times lose our positions because we will not bow down to them. Can I tell you that if a you stick by your morals, God will bless you for it in the end and usually the person learns to respect you as well. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity... Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” - I Timothy 4:12,13.

Ahasuerus was in search of a new queen, he sent for young virgin women throughout the nation, Esther was one of these woman. Esther was a Jew born into captivity, she was an orphan raised by her uncle Mordecai, she won the favor and respect of the king simply by being herself. Esther did not know it at the time, but it was God's will to make her queen to save His people.

“And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women...Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house...Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” - Esther 2:9,13-17.

While all the other women dressed themselves to entice the king Esther remained modest, presenting herself. Esther found herself in a situation over which she had no control, she could only trust God for direction and protection. We should never doubt that God is in ultimate control to protect us and provide for His people. God never makes a mistake, is never partial, and never overlooks one of His children. “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” - Revelation 7:17.

As Christians, we are ambassadors for Christ and should maintain a dignity in our daily conduct and conversation that honors our Lord. We too may feel like a victim of circumstances beyond our control and wish for another situation where we could escape. There is no need to fear that you are missing God's best, just serve Him where you are, for He has placed you there for a reason, you are doing a great work for Him and He is rejoicing over that. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:16.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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