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USE YOUR POSITION TO BRING JOY TO PEOPLE

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: FRIDAY, 7TH JULY, 2023 

TOPIC: USE YOUR POSITION TO BRING JOY TO PEOPLE

TEXT: ESTHER 4:1-17

1. When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
2. He went as far as the front of the king's gate, for no one [might] enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
3. And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, [there was] great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4. So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept [them.]
5.  Then Esther called Hathach, [one] of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this [was.]
6.  So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that [was] in front of the king's gate.
7.  And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries to destroy the Jews.
8.  He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.
9.  So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10.  Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai:
11.  "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, [he has] but one law: put [all] to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days."
12.  So they told Mordecai Esther's words.
13.  And Mordecai told [them] to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews.
14.  "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?"
15.  Then Esther told [them] to reply to Mordecai:
16.  "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which [is] against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"
17.  So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.
 

MESSAGE: 
Haman had perfected his arrangements (money and documentations) to destroy the Jews. He was very relaxed and confident that his plots would soon come to reality. When Mordecai perceived that the stage had been set for the death of the Jews in all the provinces and jurisdiction of king Ahasuerus, he rent his clothes  put on sackcloth with ashes and began to cry all around (v.1).  Esther got to know of the horrible appearance of his uncle and his bitter cry and tried to find out what the problem was. Mordecai did not hesitate to narrate the entire story of the determination of Haman to kill all the Jews. He also sent a copy of the letter sent to all the provinces to Esther (vv.2-8). Mordecai encouraged Esther to rise up for the deliverance of the Jews even at her own peril. Esther requested that a 3-day fasting be done before she could appear before the king to request for his intervention in the matter. One great point made by Mordecai to Esther was “…and who knows whether you were brought to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (v.14)
 
Beloved, there is a purpose for your marriage, position, job, church, group, etc. You are there to serve God and His people faithfully. Your position is not just for self-glory and advertisement. God has put you where you are so that the lives of those around you will be better. Whether you are a political, Church or family leader, you are an agent of Christ. be determined to put smiles on people’s faces not hardship. Just as the advent of Jesus Christ brought joy to the world, your time as a leader anywhere you may be, must convey the joy of the Lord. Your leadership must not be a burden but a blessing to humanity.


Prayer:  
Heavenly Father, give me grace to use my position to serve You and humanity. Amen.

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