I have been doing an in-depth study of the Book of Esther, written and taught by Beth Moore. I love it beyond words! It would literally be impossible to share with you the innumerable truths and the many personal realities I’ve had to face in just these few short weeks. If I had to sum up what I think is the whole gist of this amazing book, I would have to say it must be God’s providence. And, truly, He has been providential is putting me in this Bible study at this exact time in my life. Every lesson seems to resonate with me and open my eyes to what He is doing in my life. The similarities seem astounding! Don’t get me wrong! Am I a young, beautiful virgin who has been carted off to the palace and crowned queen? Umm…no. And will I stand before the king of Persia, point my finger in the face of his most trusted adviser, call his hand at evil, and ultimately thwart the annihilation of my family and my entire race. Since I’m a stay-at-home mom and feel pressured just placing my order at Dairy Queen, I sort of doubt it. Even still, the principles apply to all of us and, even though I sadly see more of myself in the foolish king Xerxes and even the cruel Haman, my heart longs to someday possess a submissively strong spirit like Esther’s.
While reading about Haman plotting against the Jews in chapter three, Beth Moore points out that though Haman presents many lies against the Jews, he supplies one truth about them. (Isn’t that just like Satan?) It was indeed a fact that they were “…scattered abroad and dispersed among the people…” Beth Moore then adds that, “So much so, in fact, that they lacked the solidarity to be the threat Haman painted them to be. Ironically, the edict would be the very thing to catapult them into the unification they severely lacked.” That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? Since I read that, I’ve sat at my desk wondering what “edict” it will take to bring today’s church into unity.
What will it be that causes us to ultimately be forced to lay down arms among ourselves? If a football team tackles one another the whole time they’re on the sidelines, they’re probably going to be pretty exhausted when it’s time to take the field, and they certainly will not step onto the field with reliance on one another. Most likely, they’ll be a laughing stock to the other team and a disgrace to the school or community they were chosen and trained to represent.
My godson, Levi, was injured this past week playing football. His greatest pain isn’t the result of physical injury, but the pain of watching his team take the field without him for the rest of the season...seeing them advance without him. Being told to “sit this one out” hurts, doesn’t it? We all go through times in life where we feel like we’ve been benched and can’t understand why. It may be that God sees a scar that needs more time to heal, or perhaps He sees a quality in us that we would never discover without some “down time”. You can be sure He sees more in us than we see in ourselves! The time-outs of life are much more bearable when we focus our attention on others and how we can help them. The sidelines are where we can learn to give selflessly. Levi won’t be making tackles in the coming weeks, but he will be cheering on his teammates and letting them know that their effort is as important as his. That’s what character does, and I would be as proud seeing him be a team player on the sidelines as in the end zone. In actuality, he won’t be sitting out at all, will he?
I have lived a long time worried about my contribution to “the game”. Only recently has God helped me realize that the ministry is His. It is not mine at all. My vision of "ideal ministry" pales to God's very real desire and possibility. I sincerely believe that if we will all make Jesus and unity with His people our heart’s desire, God will take care of any threat to His work, and He will be glorified in every circumstance of our lives. People moving in unity moves the heart of God. He cannot resist coming into the midst of brothers and sisters unified in His Name. The Bible is full of breathtaking acts of God among unified believers...the greatest being that He simply showed up. The God of Heaven was among them! Win or lose, the fight is infinitely more manageable when we know God is present.
I am so anxious to see God’s Church advance in unity! "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” The edict has been penned and published. Throughout the pages of scripture is a call to lay aside ourselves and look on the things of others. May we “with gladness and singleness of heart” be used by God to advance the gospel in such a time as this.
“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,
being of one accord, of one mind.”~Philippians 2:2
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