The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 10 March 2020 – TOPIC: BEING FIRM
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TOPIC: BEING FIRM
READ: ESTHER 3:1 -7 (NKJV)1. After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who [were] with him.2. And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.3. Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4. Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5. When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.6. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.7. In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.*THE MESSAGE:*Haman was promoted above all the princes; he subsequently demanded that the people should bow to greet him – a form of worship. For the Jews, it’s a sin to bow in worship to any other except Yahweh. So Mordecai deliberately refused to compromise his faith. People tried to persuade him to go contrary to his decision and faith but he stood firm, not minding what the result may be. Haman became angry, not only with Mordecai, but with the entire Jews. On a daily basis, he led the casting of lots to determine what would happen to the Jews because of Mordecai’s firmness in his faith. This was done in the presence of Mordecai, probably to make him change his mind but he remained firm.What is our attitude towards our tenets of faith? How firm are we to the commandments of God? Are we guilty of obeying man than God? In the face of Islamic insurgency and killing of Christian faithful, how firm are we in our Christian commitment? The truth is that the idea of Boko Haram showing their wickedness to Christians on videos can be likened to Haman’s casting of lot before Mordecai. The aim is to see if we could drop our faith because of fear. But like Mordecai, we must remain firm in the Lord.*PRAYER:* Dear Lord, give me grace to be firm in my Christian commitment in Jesus Name. Amen