December 18th - Esther

The book of Esther is one worth reading often. In fact, the Jews today still celebrate her story through a celebration about how she was a beautiful girl with an even more beautiful heart because she loved God and she loved her people. When she was a young woman, a king was looking for a new queen. The king saw Esther in all the other young women that were around because she was different than the other young women by the way she shared her heart. So, he made Esther the queen. He did not know that she was part of the Children of Israel who were called Jews because they were of the house of Judah. He just thought she was lovely. One of the king’s men didn’t like the Jews so he had the King make a plan to kill all the Jews whether they be old or young or men or women. Esther’s Uncle came to her and pleaded with her to go talk to the king. She said she could be killed if she went to the king without being invited. Esther’s Uncle said, “if you don’t all of the Jews will be killed.” He said, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” This was scary for Esther, but she asked her uncle to have all the people pray for her and fast for her so that she may have the courage she needed to talk with the king.

So, they all did, and the day came that she went into the king and fortunately he held out his scepter so that she may talk to him. He asked her what she wanted. She said she wanted to invite him to dinner. So, she had a dinner for the king and his helper that tricked the king in the plan to kill the Jews. The king asked again what she wanted. She told the king that Haman had made a plot to kill her people and to please have it reversed so that her people may live. The king was surprised and reversed the plan to kill all the Jews. The Jews were so happy they had a celebration.

Esther helps remind us that Christ is the one who saves us. He doesn’t save us from evil people who might want to kill us, but he saves us from the snares of Satan who blocks the way to becoming closer to God and to feel of His unconditional, unchanging, uncontainable, unending, and unfailing love. He saves us from our own selves because sometimes we get caught up in trying to do all things on our own when really, we need to remember that it is through Christ that we can do all things and that it is in Christ that we can do all things and that it is in Christ that we can conquer all the hurt and the hard and return to His loving home.

This Christmas season think of what it means to have courage. Think how Esther had gathered her courage and who she asked to help her. Think of the courage it took for Jesus to die for us even when he knew some wouldn’t take His gift. Think of the courage that it will take to stand up to those that want to do things against God’s people. Think of the courage God gives you when you follow Him and take in the light that Jesus gives through His powerful Atonement. Have the courage to tell someone about what Jesus means to you and how they can feel that same love and courage by following Christ.