Daily Devotional
May 30 - June 5, 2010
May 30
Esther 6-7
"For the man whom the king desires to honor, let them bring a royal robe ..." (6:7). With beautiful irony, Haman described how the king should honor a man. Haman, of course, thought the king was planning to honor him, but the king was praising his enemy, Mordecai. Worse, the king commanded Haman to be the one to give Mordecai the robe and crown and parade him on horseback through the city. Haman had no choice but to obey.
In truth, our King sees everything. One day, He will reward the real heroes for their hidden acts of obedience and sacrifice.
May 31
Psalm 98
"O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things" (v1). The psalmist encouraged Israel to sing about God's faithfulness in the present - today's victories. With voices and musical instruments, we are charged to celebrate God's activity in our lives. Yet, this world isn't perfect; we still experience darkness and trouble. Therefore, God's people also anticipate the future - "He is coming to judge the earth" (v9).
God's creation knows that His coming is good. The sea, the mountains, and the rivers will celebrate with us when God comes to make all things right (v7-9).
June 1
I Corinthians 13
"Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease..." (v8). Paul encouraged all believers to use their God-given spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ: prophecy, teaching, healing, etc. These are wonderful tools, useful for this life on earth. But love will remain forever. If we excel in all kinds of "ministry" but treat others harshly, we are "nothing" - we are not like Christ.
Love defines God Himself. When "the perfect" comes (eternity, v10) many things will change, but love will remain.
June 2
Corinthians 14
"So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church" (v12). Paul had noticed that the Corinthians were focusing rather extremely on speaking in tongues. He reminded them that without interpretation, speaking in tongues does not build up the Body of Christ - though privately our spirits are communing with the Lord (v2). When believers gather, the point is to be together in worship, and our spiritual gifts should be used to encourage one another.
Paul told believers to pursue spiritual gifts for the sake of others: "for edification and exhortation and consolation" (v3) - strengthening God's people.
June 3
Esther 8
"For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor" (v16). Esther is a story of reversals. Haman's plan to "destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews" (3:13) was turned upside down. Through Mordecai and Esther's intervention, the Jews were prepared to defend themselves. Haman was hung on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai, and Mordecai received the honors Haman coveted. And Esther, orphan girl of a minority culture, became Queen.
God loves to turn our world upside down. Barren women have children, the dead live again, and sinners become friends of God.
June 4
Esther 9-10
"So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family ... for these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants" (9:28). Like the Passover, Purim celebrates a time when God intervened to save His people. Re-telling the story teaches the next generation who God is: the God who hears, the God who loves, the God who acts on our behalf.
Re-telling Bible stories opens our hearts to expect God to hear, love, and act the same way, for us, today.
June 5
Proverbs 25:1-14
"Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely" (v14). A mature person has both integrity in himself (he truly is what he presents himself to be) and sensitivity toward others. The proverbs warn us about bragging (v6) and the disasters that follow fickle, unreliable friends (v19). In contrast, the person of integrity and humility follows through on promises and encourages others by "a word spoken in right circumstances"(v11).
Self-centeredness leads to false pride and insensitivity to those around us. If we are confident of our identity in Christ, we are free to love others.
