Corona Devo 1179

Thank you to the Mordecai's.

~~~

Who helped us become who we are today? 

Who sacrificed their time, their love, their selves in order for us to have a chance, have a life, have a purpose, and know that we are not here by mistake, but for very specific purposes, assigned by God?  

Who cared for us when we were babies?  Who raised us physically?  Who raised us spiritually?  

Who mentored us in the right ways to live righteously, so that when we got out on our own, we had the foundation to live well?

It was (hopefully) our parents, but chances are, there were many people along-the-way-of-our-lives that built-into-us and built-us-up into the people that we are today.  

Thank you to the Mordecai's in our life.

Who was Mordecai, you ask?  

In the Book of Esther, he was a cousin of Esther.  A good man.  An older, God-fearing, wise, Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair... (6) His family had been among those who...had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. (7) This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.  

I told you he was a good man.  He adopted his niece and raised her as his own daughter.  But not just "adopted" in name, or in financial provision, but he loved Esther.  He taught her God's Word and His ways.  he raised her in love and God's love.  

Over and over in the account of Esther, she seeks Mordecai's advice, she obeys Mordecai, and she trusts Mordecai.  

As a child, and as an adult, Mordecai allowed God to lead him in leading Esther, and it changed the course of Esther's life, and all of the Jewish people in her area.

Thank you to the Mordecai's.
~~~

 The king (Xerxes), was basically running auditions to find his next queen.  Esther got herded into the gaggle of beautiful women to be prepped-for and reviewed by King Xerxes.  

Her godly-tendencies (acquired by the grace of God and through her cousin Mordecai's decision to parent her) made Esther stand-out again and again.  

Thank you to the Mordecai's.

But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made. (2) So his personal attendants suggested, “Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. (3) 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. (4) 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.  

(5) At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai... (7) ... Mordecai adopted (Esther) into his family and raised her as his own daughter.  

(8) As a result of the king’s decree, Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care. 

(9) Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.  

(10) Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had directed her not to do so. (11) Every day Mordecai would take a walk near the courtyard of the harem to find out about Esther and what was happening to her.  ~Esther 2:1-5, 7-11  

Thank you to the Mordecai's in our life, too.

(15) ...When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she accepted the advice of...the eunuch in charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her.  

(16) Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign. 

(17) 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. (18) To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.  

(19) Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem and Mordecai had become a palace official, (20) Esther continued to keep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.

Thank you to the Mordecai's.

Where could a little girl with no parents have ended up?  And yet, where did Esther end up?  Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace... (17) 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... (Esther 2:16-17).

~~~

Who helped us (is helping us!) become who we are today? 

Who sacrificed (sacrifices!) their time, their love, their selves in order for us to know that we are not here by mistake, but for very specific purposes, assigned by God?  

Who raised (raises!) us spiritually?  

Who mentored (mentors) us in righteous living?

Thank you to the Mordecai's in our lives.  We wouldn't be where we're at without you.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com