Esther 6:7-9 (NKJV) – 6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ” 

At this moment the tension of the chapter is at it’s highest. Haman is coming to ask the king to hang Mordecai while the king is asking Haman how he should honor Mordecai.

It is in the moments of tension in our lives that we are called to trust in the Lord. We know that God has control over our lives, our provision, our worries, our concerns, etc. We may not know where our story is going but we know that our God is in control. As we saw with Mordecai in verses 1-5, our story is not just a list of coincidences. Even when we are acting apart from God, He is working in our lives.

In moments where God may seem unseen, how have you seen Him actually orchestrating those situations for your good?

How do you feel and respond when tensions are at their highest?

Esther 6:10-11 (NKJV) – 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.” 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!” 

Haman suggested the plan of giving the one the king delights in the highest royal public treatment assuming the honor would be for him. Instead of receiving the honor himself, Haman  is placed in the position to honor Mordecai, who he had planned to kill that day.

Pride goes before the fall. Setting yourself out for the destruction of others will no doubt lead to the destruction of yourself. Setting yourself up to lift yourself up above others will always end in your inevitable fall. It is important to be confident in who you are, the abilities God has given you, what He has called you to, etc. however, it is dangerous when that confidence is pushed towards pride.

In what ways have you seen your confidence turn towards pride? What was the outcome?

Mordecai did nothing to deserve the honor that he was receiving. He was simply in the right place at the right time.

Not only do we need to put others before ourselves, we also need to give up our life to honor Christ. We in no way deserve the grace that God has given us. We have done good things, but on the whole we have done nothing that warrants the grace of God and the forgiveness of how we have wronged the Lord. Yet, He still sacrifices Himself for us. It is only through Christ that we have the greatest gift of all. With that, our entire life should honor Him.

In what ways can the knowledge of your underserved grace help you remain confident and humble in every situation?