“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 3:2 NLT
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Those who need to make a valid point will, with emphasis, shout in delivering their message bringing home the main point. John the Baptist, known as the forerunner of Jesus the Messiah, had a message to bring to the people of his day. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Mt.3:1b, 2 nlt) His ministry and message were predicted in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, “Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, ‘Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!’” (Is.40:3 nlt) The call is to repentance, preparing oneself by radically changing their life to live morally and spiritually in the sight of God.
John the Baptist shouted his message of repentance in the wilderness of Judea. Located a full day’s journey from Jerusalem along the western shore of the Dead Sea didn’t prevent those from coming to him to be baptized repenting of their sins. So many people were coming to him from the entire region that it prompted an investigation from the Pharisees and Sadducees. The religious leaders of the Jews had it figured they had no need of repentance due to their heritage as the children of Abraham. But, this repentance was of a personal nature which needed to be dealt with.
That message was something to shout about in John’s day as the Jewish people looked forward to the coming Messiah and the Heavenly Kingdom. There was a great need to get right with God and leave the traditions of men. That same message is something to shout in our day, “Repent of your sins and turn to God.” Some are following their own path which will lead to destruction. Many others are still following the traditions of men, feeling secure in their church attendance or membership. Our family heritage or church affiliation will not get us into the Kingdom of Heaven. There is only one way. “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
A lot of public businesses cannot afford to close during a renovation project. Signs are posted throughout the business stating, ‘Pardon our mess, we’re under construction to better serve you.” Churches also cannot afford to pause preaching the good news of the gospel on Sundays, so when appropriate, signs are displayed ‘Pardon our mess; Under Construction.’ It is not only the brick and mortar of the physical building that needs renovation over time, but the spiritual condition of the body (the real church) that needs a makeover, and that may start with the proper display of our spiritual gifts. Knowing and understanding our spiritual gifts may take time and putting them into practice may take even longer and the process could get messy. So, ‘Under Construction’ signs may become necessary.
Paul addressed the church in Corinth concerning their abuse of spiritual gifts. They weren’t using them properly and the misuse was dividing the church and causing confusion for outsiders who attended. Spiritual unity and harmony were missing. They were doing their own thing, and the church was not being edified. Paul did not scold them for their desire for the gifts but for failing to seek those gifts that build up the church, and to use them in a proper manner. Paul wrote, “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1Cor.14:40 nlt) The Corinthian church was indeed under construction and I’m sure it got messy.
We may not have the same problems of the early Corinthian church understanding and misusing our spiritual gifts. But we are capable of exalting ourselves, ignoring others, or even hiding our gifts keeping a blessing from the church body for which they were intended. All of us are still under construction so even if those signs are not visible, may we see them around each other encouraging one another to pardon our mess for we are all under construction to better serve each other.
“So his personal attendants suggested, ‘Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.’ This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect.” Esther 2:2, 4 NLT
We continue in the book of Esther this week with the introduction of the two main heroic characters of the book, Esther and Mordecai. Esther is of Jewish descent, and her Hebrew name is Hadassah, meaning ‘myrtle.’ Her Persian name Esther means ‘star.’ Mordecai is her cousin, but much older, who raised her as his own daughter for Hadassah’s parents were deceased. Both Esther and Mordecai lived in Susa and around the king’s palace. Mordecai, most likely, had a prominent position within the government of the king as he was one of the men who sat at the king’s gate. (Es.2:21) The stage is set; the players are in place for this second act to begin as God’s providential hand is about to make the next move.
King Ahasuerus may have been having second thoughts agreeing to having his wife, Queen Vashti, banished from the kingdom. He was near the end of a war that was going badly, and his mind continually reflected to his wife. “After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.” (Es.2:1 esv) The king misses his wife, but due to the law that banished her, at the persuasion of his self-centered advisors, he could not legally reverse it. So, his advisors came up with another solution to install a new queen. They knew how to appeal to the king explaining the details, “Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments. After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.” (Es.2:3-4a nlt) The suggestion appealed to the King and again he agreed with the advisors.
The search began in all 127 provinces to bring the most beautiful women into the king’s royal harem to begin the process of possibly becoming queen., They could have saved themselves a lot of time and expenses if they looked just around the corner at Esther. But of course, they didn’t know that. They wanted to have a huge selection of women to choose from to ensure the king would select the best one. And he did, he chose Esther, God’s choice, God’s next move.
Government leaders across the world make hundreds of decisions every day. It would help all of us to be reminded of God’s providential hand in each decision that is made. There are many decisions, acts of congress and parliaments, executive orders from state and federal governments, and court decisions which we may or may not agree with, but the Lord’s hand is in each one of them for His purposes. Esther being chosen Queen by King Ahasuerus is God’s preparation for Esther to be used by Him to recuse His people from annihilation. The king has no idea that Esther is Jewish, and her name is Hadassah. Esther had kept her ancestry secret under instructions from Mordecai, perhaps for her safety, but it would be an effective piece of information in the days ahead.
God’s hand is clearly at work here in chapter 2 as He moves the pieces around the chess board. Esther had no choice but to agree to go the king’s royal harem when approached by the king’s officers. Hegai, who had charge of the women, was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly providing a special menu for her, the best of cosmetics, assigning seven maids to her, and moving her into the best place in the harem. Esther was gaining favor with all who had seen her. When her time came to be presented to the king, Esther did not ask for anything she could have had before going in to see the king, such as jewelry or any extravagant clothing. Esther revealed her unique quite spirit. The king did not need to see anyone else, Esther would be his wife, the Queen. “And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti.” (Es.2:17 nlt)
God is always one step ahead of Satan’s plan as we see with Esther. Her cousin Mordecai will also be the recipient of a chess move by the Lord. While sitting at the king’s gate he undercovers a plot to assassinate the king. Mordecai warns his cousin Queen Esther, the plot is exposed, and the two conspirators are hanged on the gallows. There’s more to this story of Mordecai’s action to be revealed. God’s hand of providence concerning Mordecai is not yet competed.………to be continued.
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NLT
Last evening the Olympic Cauldron for the 2024 Paris Summer Games was lit before thousands of fans in attendance along with millions watching across the world. It signifies the start of the XXXIII Olympiad where athletes from every nation will display the results of their determination and self-discipline in preparation to win a gold medal. The flames in the Olympic Cauldron also represents the flame of desire in every athletes’ heart to compete in the games and win gold. That flame continues to grow stronger being fanned by endless training, proper diet, and self-discipline. It now burns full and bright ready to be revealed for the world to see.
Christians who have accepted Jesus Christ as savior by trusting in Him for salvation have a lighted cauldron within them. Everyone has been given a spiritual gift by the Lord to use for His service in building up His church. We possess the flame, but it needs to be fanned occasionally for its full effectiveness. Unlike an Olympic athlete who must rely on their own strength, discipline, and training to achieve positive results, Christians have the Holy Spirit to help them along. Paul encouraged Timothy he was given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline to help him carry out the work of the Lord.
The Lord doesn’t want our gift to remain a single flame, but to fan it into flames with the power of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians are timid and even afraid when it comes to volunteering in a church project when they know they have the gift to accomplish the task. Remember it is God, the Holy Spirit, creator of the universe, whom you possess along with your spiritual gift. Unlike the flames in the Olympic Cauldron which will be extinguished at the end of the games, your spiritual gift will never go out. The Holy Spirit will see to it your cauldron stays lit.
The week’s devotionals were inspired by the “XXXIII Olympiad” and “The Incredible Race VBS Program” https://answersingenesis.org/
“From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.” Acts 17:26 NLT
Have you ever heard someone asked, ‘Why Am I Here?’ You made have asked yourself that question. Some people ask it in jest when things go awry questioning ‘why them.’ Others are deeply troubled at life and question ‘Why Am I Here?’ The short answer is, God’s Will, or you can say God’s providence. So, a deeper explanation might be needed.
The first book of the Bible Genesis says the following, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen.1:27 nlt) We are here because the God of universe decided to populate the earth He created and made the human race, the Incredible Race as we noted in Tuesday’s devotional. No one is here by accident or by chance no matter what some of our parents may have told us. God created the human race and the expansion of it is in His control and by His design.
God has also placed us on one of the six continents of the world which would be our home. It is entirely possible your parents or grandparents migrated to your home from another continent, or maybe you have yourself, still, it was God’s design for you. As we noted yesterday as God dispersed the people from Babel starting the development of the nations, God directed their movement where they would go. In fact, the development of all nations throughout history is under God’s control. Paul writes in the book of Acts, “From one man (Adam) he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.” (17:26 nlt)
So, why are you where you are? Again, the short answer is God’s Will. It’s hard for us to grasp a clear understanding of this I know, but God has your life planned out. Think of the movement of people throughout the years across the world due to wars, famine, and natural disasters, all are by God’s design and His purposes. Even the dumb choices we have all made in relocating to another area or to another country that turned out to be a huge mistake. It made have been a mistake on our part, but God is using it for His purpose. Wherever you are and whatever the circumstances that brought you here, take the opportunity to hear from God and fulfilled His purpose for you, that’s why you are here.
“These are the clans that descended from Noah’s sons, arranged by nation according to their lines of descent. All the nations of the earth descended from these clans after the great flood.” Genesis 10:32 NLT
Representatives from 195 countries have arrived in Paris, France for the XXXIII Olympiad. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution for all Member States to observe the Olympic Truce. A pause in hostilities around the globe during the games may act as a catalyst for peaceful resolutions to all worldwide conflicts. The efforts are noble, but the world has been in constant conflict since sin entered it in the Garden of Eden. The nations may be in constant conflict, but we are all one people, one family, one race, the human race.
After the Lord scattered the people from Babel by confusing their language, Genesis chapter 10 gives the breakdown of the first nations in the areas now known as Asia, Europe, and Africa. These nations all descended from Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth after the great flood. They were few in number, but 7,000 years later there are 195 countries on this planet. Why does this matter? Because all of us are decedents from people in one of those early countries. As the number of nations grew and expanded across the globe our ancestors moved right along with them to our present day.
Knowing the past matters for our understanding of who we are in relation to each other and in the eyes of God. God is our creator and despite our differences in language and culture beginning at the tower of Babel we are all part of the human race. The tragic events that occur around the world creating trauma and chaos are rooted in sin. Sin that was enacted in the beginning with Adam and Eve. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Ro.3:23 nasb)
There is a small sample of every nation, culture and language in Paris, France the next two weeks. They may be from different nations, but all are part of the human race dating back to the first nations so many years ago. Those in the human race, that’s all of us, are in need of saving grace from Jesus Christ unto salvation whether in Paris or anywhere in the world. That is why the past matters.
There is always hope for those who rebel against God. An example of mass rebellion against the creator God occurred in the early chapters of the book of Genesis. One hundred years after the destructive flood that saved only Noah and his family the people rebelled against God in their pride and refused God’s command to move on and populate the earth. Everyone spoke the same language and they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” (Gen.11:4 nlt)
That famous tower they intended to build was the ‘tower of Babel.’ It was to be a symbol of their strength and achievements of what they were capable of without God’s help. They were assigning glory to themselves in building this great tower. It would stand as a monument of how great they were. They quickly forgot God and became their own god. The God of heaven quickly put an end to that by confusing their language. God who created mankind now created multiple languages among the people so they couldn’t understand each other and were forced to separate and move on.
God had caused the separation due to their sin. They wouldn’t scatter across the earth as God told them to. Sometimes we put ourselves in a position of not following God’s instructions and God separates from what is keeping us from serving Him. But there is always hope that follows. After the Lord separated the people at the tower of Babel scripture tells us that through the line Shem, one of Noah’s sons, came Abraham, and through his line came our savior Jesus Christ.
There was a time when the world had one language and although we enjoy the many different cultures and languages today as represented in Paris this week, it came about due to sin. But there is hope, for God sent His Jesus to reconcile all of us back together through Him no matter our language. “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.” (Rev.7:9 nlt)
An incredible race is about to unfold before the world this Friday July 26, 2024. Over 10,000 athletes from 195 countries will be racing towards a gold, silver, or bronze medal in the 2024 Olympic games in Paris. This incredible race occurs every four years in a different country awarded the opportunity to host the games. The host nation displays their country, their culture, and the people with pride. Within 195 different countries there are many different cultures, nationalities, ethnic groups, and skin color. The Olympic games have a way of displaying God’s wonderful creation, the human race, the true incredible race. Our devotions this week will coincide with the thousands of athletes and fans from hundreds of cultures across the globe as they convene in Paris displaying God’s incredible race.
When you are among thousands of people who have gathered, it is natural to see the differences between yourself and other people. What do you notice first about those who differ from you? Do you have a first impression of them? And from where does that first impression come from? Does it come from recognizing every person as an image-bear of God? Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (nlt) Every human being in this incredible race is made in the image of God.
Our world today makes it easy to notice the difference in human beings and not always in a positive light calling out the mistreatment of selected individuals or people groups over others and rightly so. Sadly, others do so to push their own agenda without any care for the mistreated. It is easy even for Christians to get caught up in a non-biblical mindset.
Christians are to view everyone as seen through God’s eyes. “The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1Sa.16:7b nlt) The gathering of the nations in Paris represents the gathering that will take place in the kingdom of heaven. All who have accepted Christ as savior from every nation in every corner of the world will be present, the incredible race.
“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 NLT
The XXXIII Olympiad will commence on July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Athletes from all over the world will arrive in hopes of capturing that Olympic Gold Medal. Events will take place over the next seventeen days from track and field, swimming, gymnastics, skateboarding, volleyball, basketball, equestrian, boxing, 32 sports in all with 329 medal events. That’s a lot of gold. Individual athletes train for years for the opportunity to go for the gold. Members of team sports keep themselves in shape hoping to get that invitation to try out and be part of the Olympic dream. A lot, if not all, of personal pleasures and pursuits are put on the sidelines during the training process. There are two goals, to make the cut and to earn a gold medal.
The apostle Paul used athletic imagery quite often in his writings. He referred to his preaching as running in a race as he addressed the churches at Galatia. (Gal.2:2) Paul told the church at Philippi he pressed on to finish the race to receive the prize the Lord had for him. (Phi.3:14) He told Timothy to fight the good fight for true faith, and always be careful to compete by the rules. (1 Tim.6:12, 2 Tim.2:5) Paul also put in perspective the value of the goal he was trying to reach. He was going for eternal gold.
Paul commended the athletes of his day by noting their extensive disciplined training. Their goal was to win a wreath of greenery at the Isthmian games in Corinth. Obviously, this prize would not last the test of time, but they strived for it, nonetheless. Paul seems to say how much better the eternal prize would be. He was not dismissing the value of going for the gold in this life, but to have our priorities in order. Even a gold medal may lose its value one day and we certainly will not outlast that product of gold in our lifetime, so let us also go, with Paul, for eternal gold.
Our next ‘Biblical Insights’ series will be a survey of the Old Testament book of Esther. We will attempt to extract as much pertinent information as it relates to our day concerning the providence of God for us individually, as well as the Christian church, Israel as God’s chosen people, and current events in the United States and across the world. God’s providential hand overrules all things, nothing happens by chance.
Critics and skeptics have line up for years to discount the the book of Esther on the grounds it lacks Biblical authority when there is no mention of God in its entire writing. It does seem like a valid point but when we place ‘Esther’ in context with the entirety of Scripture it’s hard not to confirm it as God’s Word. God is seen all throughout the pages of the book of Esther. His character, love for His people, His righteousness, and His control of events are on display in the in the reversals of outcomes some would call fate, but it is not fate but the providential hand of God.
The events of the book occur over a ten-year period fifty-five years after the Jews were freed from captivity by Cyrus, king of Persia at that time. Approximately 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem after the exile. Many stayed in Babylon and surrounding areas to live out their lives while others moved eastward to Susa one of the three capitals of the Persian Empire. This is where the story of Esther takes place in 483-473 B. C. the Persian Empire of world history. Scripture says the Empire included 127 provinces stretching from India, present day Pakistan to Ethiopia presently northern Sudan.
We start this week with a look into the Persian Empire and its king boasting of its power, strategizing to assume more power, flaunting their many luxuries, and partying for a week. The king gets insulted by his wife near the end of the festive week and it becomes a national crisis. King Ahasuerus, highly embarrassed and furious, seeks counsel from his advisers on how to proceed. The advisors not wanting to waste an opportunity to increase their own power informed the king how his wife’s actions would filter down to every woman in the kingdom. “Before this day is out, the wives of all the king’s nobles throughout Persia and Media will hear what the queen did and will start treating their husbands the same way. There will be no end to their contempt and anger.” (Es.1:18 nlt) So they advise the king to make a decree banishing Queen Vashti from the presence the king and a new queen be put installed in her place. The decree would be sent across the Empire and upon receiving and read, women everywhere would learn the fate of disobeying their husbands. “He (the king) sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases.” (Es.1:22 nlt)
Officials today often look to solidify policies of their agenda by taking advantage of circumstances that arrive unexpectedly and create legislation that has nothing to do with the events that triggered it. It was used as an opportunity to expand their power and influence for their own means. This should not be a surprise, it’s as old as the Persian Empire.
Queen Vashti had a very legitimate reason for insulting her husband, King Ahasuerus. Near the end of the seven-day drinking party, the king wanted to show off his beautiful wife in a lewd matter. “He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman.” (Es.1:11b nlt) The Queen was giving her own party for the women of the royal palace when the men sent from her husband came to bring her to the king’s party. Naturally she refused, suspecting the reason of her appearance. Some Biblical scholars have also suggested Queen Vashti may have been pregnant at the time. In any case, we have a king with no regard to the dignity of the Queen and more importantly, his wife.
As mentioned earlier, nothing happens by chance. This is a chess match between the God of the universe and Satan the god of this world. King Ahasuerus was used by Satan in his drunken state to concur with his advisors that a national crisis has developed. He disposes his Queen and passes a decree to strengthen male superiority across his Empire, but God has the next move in the selection of the next Queen.
Word for the Soul 