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In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
Esther 10:1-3
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Where would the Jews been had it not been for Mordecai? True that God would have saved them otherwise but Mordecai allowed himself to be an instrument through which God worked. We could learn a lot from his example.
Indeed, Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman who had been elevated to a position higher than any of the other nobles. He would only bow before the One and only true King and authority over his life, the Lord God Almighty. Mordecai full knew the dangers that came with his rebellious refusal to honor Haman but it was more important to Mordecai to honor God first than anything else, even if it put him in grave danger. He refused to give in.
Too often, we buckle under in our own lives when faced with times to stand firm for God or buckle under to worldly demands on us. We too often shift our focal point away from God and pay honor to other people or other things. Indeed, life offers us all kinds of false gods to bow down to. And we all have a choice whether to do so or not.
Mordecai didn’t and neither should we.
And when the rest of the Jews fell into danger along with Mordecai, what did Mordecai do? He advocated for all, not just himself. He petitioned Esther, who he raised like his own daughter, to use her influence with King Xerxes to win all the Jews, including herself, pardon from impending death.
God expects us to advocate and support those who are in danger and distress. Consider how many people in this world are persecuted for their Christian beliefs…or are sold into the bondage of sex trafficking…or are fighting for their lives because they don’t have enough food to eat or clean water to drink. There’s a world in need out there and who will speak up for them…to make others aware of their needs…to seek to interceded and get help for them? Mordecai didn’t hesitate to do what it took to ensure that the Jews would not perish. We’re expected to do likewise.
This is what made Mordecai great. It wasn’t his elevation to second in command behind King Xerxes, although the world would define his greatness that way. No, what made Mordecai great was the way he held firm to being second to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, standing firm on his faith in God while selflessly caring for others. Scripture tells us his fellow Jews “held (him) in high esteem…because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.” It wasn’t about Mordecai but about all the Jewish people, the chosen people of God, and he discovered greatness when he placed himself second.
Through the life of Mordecai, we get a glimpse of One even greater yet to come, a Savior who would live a perfectly selfless life of working for the good of others and interceding for the welfare, not just of the Jews, but for all of God’s people. Jesus did all of that and more. Thanks be to God for Him and the salvation He brings us…and thanks be to God for Mordecai and the great example of leadership and faithful service he provided.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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