Wednesday 3 Sep 2014

September 3: Esther 2:15-18

Key Verse: Esther 2:15
Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all who saw her.

Devotion:
What would you ask for if you were taken to be presented to a king or queen and told that you could have anything that you asked for? Would you ask for something outrageous or would you just keep it to the basics such as a new car or two? If you think about what is being presented to you, would you take full advantage of the offer or would you be too shy to ask for anything?

When Esther was going to be presented to the king she was told by the custodian of the women (the virgins being prepared to meet with the king) what things she ought to ask for. This would have been some things that would have been pleasing gifts to receive but not too much as to make the king wonder what her intentions were. Whatever it was the outcome was that the king was not only pleased with what he saw, he was pleased with how she behaved and what she requested.

What sort of things do you ask from God? Are you asking for the outrageous things which will build you up, please yourself, bring you glory in some way? Or are you asking for the things which will bring glory to God and to other people around you? Are you requests aimed at pleasing yourself or aimed at pleasing others? I get very upset by people all the time because so many people do so many things and say so many thing which are just plain and simply spiteful or selfish. I know I can come out with some pretty stupid things as well, but I do try to aim to please others first of all.

God wants us to share what we have with others so that we can learn to love others properly and not just to try and get all we can from the world. Many people teach us that we have to make sure we look after “number 1” meaning that we should look out for ourselves first of all. Well I really do not like doing that and will always try to please others before myself. I consider myself to be a servant who is working for God and that means trying to please Him first of all. Try it!

Points to Ponder:
Who do you aim to please first?

Where are you enemies on that list?