Stockton Baptist Church

LIVING BY FAITH. As we head into 2020, genuine Christians can glean 3 major reminders from the book of Esther. First of all, when faced with the unimaginable - the complete annihilation of her fellow Jews throughout the Persian empire - we see that Esther leaned on the Lord. She and her maidens fasted and prayed for 3 days and nights seeking God's will and His leading. The staggering seriousness of the situation sent Esther to her knees. She humbled herself and revealed the genuineness of her faith by confidently depending on God. She certainly understood Solomon's sage advice in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." She trusted the same God who told Joshua, "I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you." (Josh. 1:5). Not only did Esther lean on the Lord, she also trusted His leading. What did Esther do? After finishing her fasting and pleading with God, seemingly at His leading, she arose, put on her Queen's royal attire, and stood in her husband's courtyard waiting for him to see her. He did see her and asked, "What is it? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” Esther simply asked her husband to come to a feast and to bring Haman. During the feast, she asked that they return the next day for another feast. That very night, God intervened and reminded the king that Mordecai had saved his life. Was God in control? Absolutely! He was leading and Esther, having leaned on Him, followed His leading. Lastly, she trusted the Lord to work out His will - which He did. Haman, his 10 sons, and over 75,000 haters of God and His people were killed. The Jews were spared and set up a new feast to remember God's faithful protection. Will we also lean on the Lord, follow His leading and trust Him to work out His will? Will we pass also God's test in 2020?