Stand Your Ground

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Stand Your Ground
Date: Tuesday May 29, 2012Today's Chapters: Esther 1-4

Hello My Friend,
Surrendering one's life to serve God can be challenging at times, battles will come and go to test our faith in Him. We may have to serve Him in some uncomfortable or what seems like strange ways, but one day everything we do to serve God will pay off in a great way. “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” - Colossians 3:22,23.

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 Jews who where in Persia (Babylon). The timeline for these events took place approximately 521 BC to 509 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue showing the history of the Jews 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, king of Persia, we do not know much about her other than she was beautiful, there was something else about her that intriguing, she would not disgrace herself, ever for her husband. When the king wanted to show off her beauty to a bunch of men, she refused and out of anger dethroned the queen.

“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. If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.” - Esther 1:10-12,19.

Vashti was not about to go against her morals and because of that she was 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 and others will come to know Christ 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 all throughout the nation, Esther was one of these woman. What Ahasuerus did not know is that Esther was a Jew born into captivity, she was an orphan raised by her uncle Mordecai. Mordecai encourages Esther to join the women and after a year of a purification ritual Esther stood before the king. “Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of 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 2:2,11,16,17.

Esther won the kings favor simply because she was herself, 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. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:27-29. 
After Esther became queen, king Ahasuerus promoted a wicked man named Haman, which gave him the right to enforce the king's command. Haman had become so influential with the king that the people began bowing down to him as though he were king. However, Mordecai, Esther's cousin, refused. When Mordecai refused to bow down Haman was determined to use his authority to destroy Mordecai and all Jews in the kingdom.

“After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.” - Esther 3:1,2,5,6.

The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man who promoted idolatry, not only wasMordecai's life at stake, but all of the Jews as well, which would have included Esther. Like Mordecai, we must not bow down to the Haman's of this world who would seek to destroy our loyalty to Christ. 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 do something more for our Lord. There is no need to fear that you are missing God's best, just serve Him where you are, for He has placed you where you are 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.
Today's Prayer: God, It seems like the more I try to live my life in Your will the more opposition I face. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to withstand this opposition and strengthen me to be able to keep going for Your glory. I know that whatever I go through as long as I look to You I will see victory. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
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