Daily Devotionals

Devotional: July 12th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Esther 3:1-4

Today a new name appears in our story - that of Haman. We know very little about him except for the fact that, through a series of promotions, he rises to a position of great eminence, second only to the king. The Scripture records one detail about him, however, which is rather significant: it says he was "the son of Hammadatha, the Agagite." You may recall that Agag, king of the Amalekites, had been cut to pieces by the sword of Samuel (1 Samuel 15:33). If Haman was a descendant, this would have undoubtedly created in him strong anti-Semitic feelings. In his position as second-in-command to the king, Haman received from the community a good deal of respect and obedience. Whenever he appeared in public, people would bow before him, but there was one man who refused to do this - Mordecai. As a Jew, he would bow to no one but Jehovah. Mordecai's friends, fearing for his safety tried to persuade him in every way they could but Mordecai was adamant - he would bow only to the Creator and not to a creature. Perhaps his friends argued that he ought to sacrifice principle for policy and thus live on to pursue his cause. Mordecai, however, refused to listen to the voice of expediency, believing it right to honor God no matter what the consequences. Expediency can quickly ensnare the soul. It says: "When in Rome do as the Romans do." If there is ever a clash between principle and policy, stick to your principles. Let Mordecai's example rouse you to action. You may lose the world but you will save your soul.

Father, help me to remember that doing the right thing is always the right thing to do. Make me a person of principle so that my policies have something to keep them on course. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.

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