Leaders and Influence
This morning I took my final antibiotic for my most recent infection. It was nice in one way to take an oral antibiotic for an infection. Today has been a “Monday.” Somewhat of a lethargic day after a big weekend. I did get out and mowed the lawn and enjoyed the warmth of another nice fall day. Even though busy we enjoyed the activities of this last weekend from dinner with friends to the trip to Denver with my softball team to our visit at Red Rocky Fellowship on Sunday. I am glad for the progress that I am making, but still have some reminders that I am still in the process of recouping my full strength and stamina.
I mentioned previously that our guests on Friday night included Rod and Jenny Carlson. Debbie and I have known Rod and Jenny since our early years of marriage. We always enjoy reconnecting with them and have many fond memories of them and Jenny’s family that we know well. Rod and Jenny have been involved for over 10 years in a scripture memory presentation ministry called “Living Logos.” We hope to host them for a meeting with some friends at our home while they are in town. (Picture Summers, Luzinski’s and Carlson’s)
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.” Esther 10:3
The Book of Esther is one of the great stories of the Bible. It provides the background of one of the holidays that still exists on today on the Jewish calendar. It is a story about the Jews in captivity and the plot of one man out of jealousy and bitterness toward one man to destroy many.
What is of interest is that Esther’s name is on the book, but much of the story centers on her cousin and adoptive father Mordecai. It was Mordecai who put Esther forward as a candidate to replace the deposed queen. It was Mordecai who hears of a plot to assassinate the King and got the matter called to the King’s attention. Mordecai was a man of integrity and a man of faithfulness. Perhaps is it no coincidence that the book ends with a commentary on Mordecai’s life.
The greatest observation is that it takes both those in positions of power and leadership and those in positions of influence to make a difference in God’s economy. The reality that same principle applies to other organizational structures as well. In the Book of Esther we see the following lessons….
1. Esther’s submissiveness to Mordecai lead to her elevated status. Perhaps Mordecai saw potential in Esther she did not see in herself. Perhaps it was just God’s Spirit prompting both Mordecai’s counsel and Esther’s willing response.
2 . God’s had Esther in the right place at the right time. This is seen in both the revelation of the plot to kill the King, as well as the plot to kill the Jews.
3. The appointments of man, may very well be God’s appointments. When Esther became the key to revealing the plot of Haman, we read the well known words, “who knows but that you were called to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
4. Positions of power is not a replacement for the power of prayer. When Esther was summoning up the courage to approach the King, she and her “staff” committed themselves to prayer. Even though she was in a position where the opportunity presented herself to used by God, she still needed God’s favor to have the favor of the King in order to enter his presence.
5. Resentment, hatred and prejudice leads to a downfall. We can see a progression in Haman. He resented Mordecai, which lead to hatred that turned toward a prejudice for all the Jews and a plot to kill them. Haman was guilty of not bowing before Mordecai. That was his great transgression. We see Haman recounts his elevated status before the King, his wealth, his reputation, everything that should have brought comfort and satisfaction but he said all of it was meaningless because of his hatred and resentment toward Mordecai. In the end Haman was hung on the gallows that he had built to hang Mordecai and eventually his sons were killed and hung before the people of the land as well.
6. Wisdom is knowing how to handle challenging situations. We see this in the way Esther arranged for the banquet where she revealed the plot to kill the Jews. Wisdom is also seen in how Mordecai responded to the edict for the annihilation of the Jews. The result was authority was given to the Jews to defend themselves and fight their oppressors.
7. God helps His people and elevates His leaders. The Jews were so successful in defending themselves against the King’s army that many people “became Jews” because that put them on the “winning side.” We also see the end of the book with Esther as queen and Mordecai as second in command to the King.
God uses people, He places His people strategically in the right place at the right time. The way He uses people is often through the influence of others. Both roles are important in God’s economy. Whether you are a leader of an influence of leaders, allow the Lord to use you knowing that He will provide the wisdom and direction for the specific situation.