TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
In the Bible, the scripture below could be entitled, “Honor God Alone!” It’s the story of an evil Persian bureaucrat named Haman, who plotted to commit genocide against the Jewish people. But even in the face of ruin, pressure, and persecution, a man named Mordecai remained faithful to the Lord. True faithfulness is shown only when it benefits us, but even when we suffer for our faith. But don’t give up! God is always at work and His people will ultimately prevail.
(Esther 3) 1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.