Esther 4:13-16

And Mordecai said to Hathach, “Go and say to Esther, ‘Do not say to yourself that you alone will be saved in the kingdom apart from all the other Jews. For if you choose not to heed this request at this time, help and deliverance for the Jews will arise elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. Besides, who knows whether it is for this occasion you reign as queen?’ ” Then Esther dispatched the one who came to her to Mordecai, saying, “Go and assemble together the Jews in Susa. Fast for me; do not eat or drink for three full days and three full nights. I and my maids will also fast. Then I will go to the king, contrary to the law, even if I am to perish.”

Personal Challenge

This story about Esther is such an important one for all of us who proclaim to be followers of Christ to be aware of. In a nutshell, Haman, a person high up in the court of King Artexerxes, had just convinced the king to make a decree to kill all of the Jews in his kingdom. Haman hated the Jews, especially Mordecai, who also had a presence in the king’s court. What Haman did not know was that Queen Esther was not only a Jew, but Mordecai’s niece. Now come to this passage and we see Mordecai asking Esther to go to the king on behalf of the Jews. There is one “small” problem. Anyone that sought the presence of the king without him first asking for it, was subject to being put to death. This was a heavy penalty. The power of this passage is both Mordecai and Esther recognizing that God always orchestrates things so that His will is accomplished, but He never forces anyone to do what He wants. We must always look for God’s work in our lives and wonder if we are in our current situation so that He can use us and always be ready to answer “Yes!” when He calls. Glory be to God.

Luke 10:9

And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.

Personal Challenge

When Jesus sent the 70 out to proclaim that the kingdom of God had arrived, He gave them the power to also heal the sick as He had done. As we continue to read the accounts of the early church we continue to see accounts of His disciples healing the sick. Why do we not see this more today? Is it possibly that we have become deadened to what God can do in and through us by the modern thought that we are all immersed in? We have come to a place where we do not, or cannot, believe in miracles and therefore we cannot be used by God to do his acts of mercy? This is truly something to ponder and seek ways to shift our thinking, and therefore, our belief, to what God is capable of doing through those who truly believe and embrace that His kingdom has come. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Judith 9:11

For Your might is not in numbers, nor Your power in men who are strong, but You are the God of the lowly; You are the helper of the oppressed, the defender of the weak, the protector of those who are forsaken, the savior of those without hope.

Encouraging Words

As we end up the special verses in Judith we come to this proclamation from her about how God works in our lives. He does not work in the lives of the proud but in the lives of the lowly, those who are humble before him and their fellow mankind. By being humbler we can easily proclaim everything that we accomplish in our lives is because of Him and not us. Judith and her handmaiden had just returned from the camp of Holofernes. They had walked into the camp, head up high ,and persuaded the great and ruthless commander of the Assyrian army, the conquerors of the known world at the time to take them in. Judith, being humble before our God, was able to deceive Holofernes to the point where she could behead him and send the troops in disarray back home. God does many magnificent things when we humble ourselves before Him. Glory be to God!

Luke 10:2

Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Personal Challenge

For over 2000 years we have been in the midst of the great harvest. This is the harvest of souls for our living and loving God. We should never cease praying for both the workers of the harvest and the fruit that is being harvested. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love, have mercy!

Judith 8:24-25

“Now my brothers, let us set an example for our people, for their very lives depend upon us. Furthermore, the sanctuary, the temple, and the altar rest upon us. Besides all this, let us be thankful to the Lord our God, who is testing us just as He did our fathers.”

Personal Challenge

As we continue to walk through the account of Judith with regard to her chastisement of the Jewish leaders of Bethulia for testing God, we see that correction is always accompanied with a charge to do that which is right. The leadership is challenged to be a godly example in front of the people that they serve in order to effectively lead them and teach them to follow God. We too must be examples to those around us. Glory be to God!

Luke 9:23-24

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”

Personal Challenge

We must be consistently examining our lives to determine if we are denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow Christ. Am I taking the needs of others in consideration over my own needs and desires? Am I submitting to God and seeking what He wants me to be doing in my life? Am I giving freely of my blessings and resources, including my time, to serve and glorify my God? I must be consistently losing my life in order to embrace His life for me. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Judith 8:17

Therefore, while we await His deliverance, let us call upon Him to help us, and if it pleases Him He will hear our voice.

Personal Challenge

The essence of the book of Judith can be summed up in this verse. God has a plan for all of us in His greater story and kingdom. We will seldom have the privilege of knowing what that plan is. Our responsibility is to wait for Him to do His work in our lives and to diligently call upon Him as we are waiting. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Luke 8:16-18

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Personal Challenge

The only place for mystery in the Christian life are the mysteries of God. These are not mysteries because they come from a secretive and elusive God, but because they are incomprehensible to the human mind. Through Christ, much was revealed to us, and through the Holy Spirit, continues to be revealed to His children. The important part of this passage is our charge to be His lights in this dark world, to be willing to shine God’s love, grace, and mercy into the life of every person that we come it into contact with. We are to be revealing God’s love to everyone. Glory be to God!

Judith 8:14

You cannot plumb the depths of the heart of man, nor grasp the thoughts of his mind. How then do you expect to search out God, who made all these things, and come to understand His mind or comprehend His purpose? No, brothers! Do not provoke the Lord our God to anger. ‘

Personal Challenge

Judith continues to challenge the leaders of Bethulia for giving God a finite number days to protect them. We can barely understand our own thoughts let alone understand that which goes on in the mind of God. His wisdom and knowledge are unlimited and incomprehensible. When we begin to give Him limits or timelines we are provoking Him to teach us a lesson about trusting and obeying Him. It is far better for us to just stick with trust and obedience, living our lives in faith believing that He knows what is best for us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner!