One Year Bible, August 20

ESTHER 8:1 - 10:3                                                                                                                  DELIVERANCE & REVERSALS:  Uncle Mordecai was set over the House of Haman (his persecutor). This means he was given Haman's confiscated property.  Then he was also given the "signet ring" - he was made Prime Minister, next to King Ahasuerus. The King's decree to kill the Jews could not be reversed, but another decree was stacked on top of it - the Jews were allowed to defend themselves. As a result, the fear of the Jews fell on the natives. "The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom 8:2)

"THE JEWS had Light, and Gladness, and Joy, and Honor." In fact, they made converts! Mordecai became increasingly prominent, and all their enemies were slaughtered and destroyed. (75,000 plus palace workers, plus Haman's 10 sons) God's people had gone from "sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day." (9:22)

RESPONSE:   People who persecute Christians don't realize who they are messing with!  Our finest vindication is the resurrection.  No one can keep us down!  Even as Esther realized her purpose only as she is under the influence of Mordecai; we realize OUR PURPOSE as we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Esther demonstrates RENEWED PURPOSE for which we are in the Kingdom.  God puts His people in positions in His timing.  Pay attention!

1 CORINTHIANS 12:27 - 13:13                                                                                             
DIVERSITY OF THE SPIRIT PRODUCES UNITY:  God loves diversity but not divisiveness. All the differing backgrounds of people have been FUSED into One Body. At the same time, the One Body is full of diversity - and every member is needed to make the body whole.  Spiritual gifting is not to benefit the individual who is expressing them, but to benefit the WHOLE.   Having been baptized AND made to drink into the Spirit - we should be SATURATED with new forces that enable us to function as One, while still maintaining our diversity.   No single "gifting" is any better than another - just like Body parts are all valuable.  In fact, our "favorite and most important parts" are kept HIDDEN!  ZNo individual is self-sufficient and no one is unnecessary.

THE "MORE EXCELLENT WAY": The Way par excellence:  This way must be CHOSEN.  It is the way that commits to the obedience and plan of God no matter what the cost.  The mature spiritual man is a man of love.  It must be noted here that this is not the LOVE of desire, or a LOVE that seeks its own satisfaction.  This LOVE spoken of here is an emanation from God.  It is self-sacrificial deeds. 1 John 3:18 says, "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."  This is because LOVE is what we DO, not what we FEEL.  The feeling is actually infatuation or affection.   Love is action and commitment. "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments." (2 Jo 1:6)  And so LOVE gets defined here as kind, not arrogant, not envious, not unseemly, not selfish, not easily offended, keeps no accounts of wrongdoing, hates perversity, loves Truth, covers over with silence when insults are received, believes the best of people, hopes for the best, endures hardship with patience and silence.  LOVE mellows out all which would have been harsh and austere.  Love is not a "gift", but the "fruit" of being spiritual.   LOVE is ETERNAL and we "can take it with us".   And, in fact, LOVE is "that which is perfect".

IT'S TIME TO GROW UP!  If you are not a new believer, then it's time you quit talking, understanding, and thinking like an immature baby.   If you are fleshly and selfish, then you are still spiritually immature, and that's why your understanding and "seeing" are not complete! The "glass" spoken of is not a window but a mirror.  The mirrors were made of polished brass, and so their reflection wasn't real clear.   When we are spiritually immature (childish) we see ourselves as if we were looking in a brass mirror, but THEN (when we grow up)  we will have a clear mirror-image of ourselves, we will see ourselves as we really are, being changed "from glory to glory".

RESPONSE:   I realize that this isn't the customary interpretation of this passage. BUT, most interpretations IGNORE the meaning of the words! ”Looking in the mirror" is "Bible-speak" for examining the Word, studying it, placing yourself in the passage. (Jam 1:23-25)  What we actually SEE in the Word of God is JESUS, walking through our lives, shining light everywhere He looks.  We see Him IN US, His faith, His joy, His ministry, His strength, His grace, His love, etc. etc.  Immature believers focus on their weaknesses, limitations, fears, sorrows, inabilities, etc.   They SEE "in part", because they pay more attention to appearing spiritual, than to BEING spiritual!   2 Cor 3:18 says that when we look "with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord..."  that we are changed to what we are seeing!

PSALM 37:1-11                                                                                                                      
"INHERIT THE EARTH":  Five times (v.9, 11, 22, 29, 34) the phrase, "inherit the earth" appears in this chapter.  It is promised to "those that wait on the Lord" (cling to Him); "the meek" (willingly endure with submission what they might escape from); "such as be blessed of Him" (opposite of "cursed" - to be called and empowered to be a "son of God"); "the righteous" (opposite of "wicked" - the righteousness by faith); those who "wait on the Lord and keep His way" (cling to Him and "stay in the fences" - walk accurately with God).  Faith says to "trust, delight, commit, rest, wait."

But what does it mean to "inherit the earth"?   It means to benefit from its physical blessings.   It means to be in possession of all things. (2 Cor 6:10; 9:10; 1 Tim 6:17; 2 Pet 1:3' 1 Cor 6:12)   It means to "trust, delight, commit, rest, wait."

RESPONSE:   We could say that Abraham inherited the earth (had mastery of the Land).  Noah certainly inherited the earth (when he emerged from the Ark after the Flood).  We inherit the earth just like Jesus inherited the Nations (Ps 2:8): We pray, we commit to obeying the Gospel, we cling to God, and submit to the Word. I have inherited my world - and now must "occupy till He comes." (Luke 9:13)   If you noticed, it is the "wicked" who are "taken away" - or "cut off" and the "righteous" who are "left behind."

PROVERBS 21:23-24                                                                                                         
He guards his mouth and his tongue who knows when to shut up. And he saves himself a lot of trouble.

Anger is self-righteous and arrogant.  It gives people a bad name (bad reputation) because an angry person shows reverence for nothing.