The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 4 March 2020 – TOPIC: GREAT BACKGROUND

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TOPIC: GREAT BACKGROUND

READ: ESTHER 2:1 – 14 (NKJV)1. After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.2. Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;3. “and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given [them.]4. “Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the king, and he did so.5. In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name [was] Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.6. [Kish] had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.7. And [Mordecai] had brought up Hadassah, that [is,] Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman [was] lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.8. So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, [under] the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.9. Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best [place] in the house of the women.10. Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal [it.]11. And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.12. Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.13. Thus [prepared, each] young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace.14. In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.*THE MESSAGE:*Our text today gives us the background of Esther. She was a stranger, a slave and a orphan but she was a virgin, fair and beautiful. She grew under a Godly uncle who adopted her as a daughter and got her rooted in God. Amidst other maidens who possibly had rich and influential backgrounds, Esther won the favour of Hegai who prepared them to appear before the king for choice of a replacement for Vashti. Hegai speeded up her up preparation and gave her the best place of the house.The importance of someone’s background in our society today cannot be overemphasised. The problem, however, is the preferment of riches, education, fame, etc. to godly virtues. The background that attracts divine favour is that of godliness, which manifests chastity, natural beauty, obedience, simplicity, self control, discipline, etc. The King of our soul is not interested in our wealthy and famous background. Thus you need to ask yourself: What is my background? How can I achieve a great background? Who can help me? *PRAYER:* I resolve to have a great background; dear Lord please help me