Character, what does that mean? As I am reading in Esther I began to jot down character qualities of King Xerxes. I wanted to compare and contrast these with Mordecai and Esther. I think many times we take people's emotions out of the bible. We hear incredible stories, and interpret them as extraordinary events with robotic actions. When reading the first chapter of Esther, I was struck by the emotions that Esther must have been feeling to even be asked let alone expected to be in a position to win the heart of the King.
Reading his characteristics I see pride, arrogance, extreme boastfulness, and a lust and desire for women. Now many argue this as just the culture of this time, and this is what Kings were expected to do. I also have skimmed over this and chalked it up to the time and culture. That is not what i want to focus on here. The focus is God knew how ungodly the king was, and he still asked Esther to win his heart in order to protect and save her family and people.....
This is very convicting to me. I have often looked at my marriage and held on to my selfishness because I deemed the acts committed against me as ungodly and therefore saw no need to submit or even be kind. I felt as if God was on my side in this because I was living for Him and He agreed with me. How did i get this completely destructive thought process? The enemy.
The scriptures say Pride goes before destruction. My actions defined pride in its rawest form. My sin slapped me in the face, and it hurt. What an incredible parallel.
God has asked us as Godly women to love our husbands, and submit to them, not if he deserves it, but because God commands it. Period. Ouch. We are to win the hearts of our husband to save our families. To protect our families from the enemy who is NOT flesh and blood. Our battle has many dimensions. We cant even get to the battle line because the deception of self ambition keeps us blind and frozen to the real war. Its time to change this. We must repent to God for our sins and turn to face the real battle. We must begin to equip and prepare ourselves to be presented as a warrior in our homes who refuses to give one more moment to glorify the enemy.
Wow, I never looked at Esther like that either. I am so proud of you for looking inside and upward. You amaze me friend.
ReplyDeleteoh.my.gosh, this is awesome. thank you for encouraging me in this today! completely needed the slap in the face.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! And just to add another thought...it is not only pride and self richessness that leads us wives into our own vicious cycles if sin, but satan can also use the humiliation to tear us down to a place where we sin because we feel we are failures and not worth it. That leads to guilt and defeat....right where the enemy wants us!!! What I may say next will rock some if you, but just as jesus was the sacrificial lamb, face down before the father, we are to walk out that same sacrifice and calling for our husbands and families in every way no matter what!!!!! Love u....can't wait to read more!!!
ReplyDeleteso true! my struggle being pride in the form of self righteousness parallel's with other struggles of humiliation and guilt, which is still a self focused issue...thanks for another insight:) xoxoxox
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