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Today is Saturday June 12, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Esther, chapters 1-3. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-12

Today's Message: Doing A Great Work For Him
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. My church just ended a youth conference yesterday, it was amazing to see teens and adolescents stirred up, surrendering to become full-time servants of God as well as adults getting a reminder that we too need to be full-time servants. My little nephew who is nine years old went up to the altar, eager to say I want to serve God, unknowing to what the future held, but ready and willing to serve God in anyway, he was out with our pastor this morning picking up trash on the grounds. “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. We are all going to face opposition for serving God, but we have to stay at it with faith in God knowing that all things work together for God's glory and our own good.

One of the pastors at the conference spoke a message that kind of relates to the book we are beginning to read today. He reminded us that God is omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (always present), and Sovereign (always in control). He knows exactly what is going on every single second of the day. We may not understand the path that God chooses for us or the circumstances in which He allows us to go through, but every bit of it is made to grow us, to strengthen us, to correct us, and to serve Him for the purpose He created us for. God has created some of us to be preachers, teachers, missionaries, church leaders, evangelists, church workers, nursery workers, and even cooks and janitors. He will use us in every field of work or play to serve Him in some way. Amazingly, He not only uses godly people, He also uses ungodly people to serve Him. Oh, they may not know it, but God uses every ungodly person in some way, it could be to bring someone to Christ, to strengthen our faith in Christ, to remind us of how fortunate we are to have Christ, or to get us back on track with Christ, but God brought every person into the world to serve Him in some way. If one Christian helps save the life of one lost soul it is all worth it, it's all about God and reaching the lost so they too can know Christ and be a part of the Kingdom of God. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” - II Corinthians 4:6.

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 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 a witness and blessing to others going through similar crises.

Esther was an orphan named Hadassah taken from Jerusalem to Babylon during Babylons attack of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. She was taken to the king's palace along with other maidens, either to be made queen or to become a part of the king's harem. “So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 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. Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.” - Esther 2:8-10. 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. We should not give in to self-pity and defeat, but remain faithful and look to the Lord and His Word for guidance and strength.

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. “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. When Mordecai refused to bow down Haman was determined to use his authority to destroy Mordecai and all Jews in the kingdom. Mordecai's life was at stake, but he was willing to die, if necessary, rather than compromise his loyalty to God. 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 there for a reason, you are doing a great work for Him and He is rejoicing over that. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

P.S. I apologize for the late post, forgive me if this caused any inconvenience.

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