God Uses The Ordinary For The Extraordinary
It always amazes me how God uses us: the ordinary, plain, simple, sinful creatures. Today we start a very interesting book; Esther. Interesting in the fact that some say Esther does not belong in our scriptures. Here is why some of the arguments; GOD's name is not once mentioned in this book, there are no references to spiritual service or prayer in the book, except a reference to fasting (4:15-16). So, one could see the argument....but GOD put the book of Esther in our Bible for a reason, it is our job to find the purpose.
Here are some other facts before we start this book; the author is unknown, some have suggested Esther or a younger contemporary of Mordecai. Esther was probably written in the middle of the fifth century.
King Xerxes reign was 486 - 464 BC, so the event of Esther took place between that time period.
Bringing the Bible Alive
The Bible is full of inspiring characters. Due to the time period that the Bible was written, it seems like there are more male characters than female characters written in it. That is why it is so nice to study a female Biblical character. I thought it would be nice to list a few of Esther's traits before we get started:
Woman of Beauty (2:7)
Self-denial and Heroism (4:16)
Tact (5:8)
Courage (7:8)
Patriotism (8:3-6)
Scripture Reading
When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign - Esther 2:15- 16
Thought For the Day
GOD is such an amazing being. HE is the most powerful being in the universe.
When you read the Bible you see displays of this awesome power, the parting of the Red Sea, an angel destroying thousands of people, bringing the dead back to life, destroying cities with fires, holding back the oceans from swallowing up the earth, the list goes on and on.
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Now, here is the thing that just makes my head spin, this force, this being, with all this power, could do ANYTHING, ANYTHING..... but, HE chooses to do HIS work in us. I am not talking about the well educated, the powerful, the highly religious, (Even though HE does use those types of people) HE uses ordinary, poor, weak, humble...... you and I.
Esther is a wonderful example of God using the ordinary. We just finished reading how he used Nehemiah to do something amazing..... just an ordinary guy. Esther is just an ordinary woman that GOD will use.
If you are following along, Esther in chapter 2 won the favor of the king. GOD was setting her up to do an extraordinary task. In chapter 3 the bad guy makes his plans known, Haman wanted to "Kill and annihilate ALL the Jews - young and old, women and little children (3:13)". Sounds like Hitler, does it not? We end with our readings there, but I am excited to see how the story lays out, and see how GOD uses this amazing woman.
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The point of today's thought is...... you guessed it, GOD uses the ordinary. GOD wants to use you, to be honest, we are all pretty ordinary in the sight of GOD's presence. That is great news for all of us, this amazing being WANTS to use you, HE has a task that HE needs you to do. The problem is most of us never grasp this, we are too focused on what we need instead of what GOD needs.
If you want to fulfill your purpose in life, let GOD use you. Let GOD know that you want HIM to use you, tell HIM to lead and direct you, let HIM know that you are HIS servant and you will do whatever HE needs you to do. I will tell you again, to be used by GOD is the most amazing experience you will ever feel. I have seen things in my life..... that just should have not worked out or happened. I am sorry, I get all excited when I start talking about Jesus. :)
Have a very Blessed day, and I hope that you join me to see how the story develops. GOD BLESS!!
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus
Thank You Father for convictions You place on my heart so that I know when You want me to move. I pray that I continue to seek You and to feel those little nudges You give me so that I can continue to be right by Your side. Father I pray for those that are struggling with the world and knowing how to follow You, I pray that they will have someone in their life come in and help them to see the beauty of You.
I love You and I pray In Jesus Name, Amen.
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