Bible Reading- Esther 3; Hebrews 3:1-10
“Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew” – Esther 3:4(KJV)
From time immemorial we have had people who stood for their conviction even to the point of death. Mordecai and other Jews were in captivity as a result of their sin. The Jews who went back to Jerusalem learnt their lessons. Similarly, those who did not return to Jerusalem had also learnt never to bow down to any idol or to worship any man or image. The only One who deserves our worship is God and God alone. This understanding was what Mordecai was riding upon when he submitted his intention to the co-servants at the gate. They were persistent in making sure that he compromised his stand for Yahweh. Hear them: “…they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew” – Esther 3:4(KJV)
When Haman discovered that Mordecai would not change his position, he wooed the king to himself in order to carry out his evil intention: “And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all provinces of thine kingdom;………. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasure” -Esther 3: 8-9(KJV). Can you imagine the extent wicked people can go just to destroy someone who made his stand for God? Are you standing for Christ where you are now?
We cannot forget in a hurry the likes of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who in a foreign land made their stand known to the extent of damning the consequence of the fiery furnace. The Scripture records “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the King, O Nechadnezzar we are not careful to answer you in this matter, if it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. But if not be it known unto thee, O King that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” – Daniel 3:16-18 (KJV). This was possible for them because they had made their stand known even in the strange land.
The attitude of the people of old is quite unlike what many Christians are putting up in our days. People get to a place of work or new environment and they find it difficult to make their stand known for Jesus Christ. It is quite unfortunate that Christians forget their identity and what they are called to do in any given location they find themselves. You are called to defend righteousness and not to bow down for affluence or status at the detriment of the name of Christ. If you make your stand known, you shall not be debased, rather God shall be there to defend you. He did that in the time past, He will do it again.
PRAYER: Lord, release upon me the grace to stand for Christ anywhere I found myself in Jesus name.
Rev. Julius Oluwole