SOAPing Esther–Working for the good of my people, whomever they are

I’ve been reading and SOAPing my way through Esther again. Today I am sharing my SOAP response to chapter 10.   Here’s what stood out to me today:

Scripture: Esther 10:3

Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

Observation:

This passage shows us that Mordecai was rewarded here on earth did what was right, for working for the good of his people.

Application:

I don’t know that we are rewarded here on earth for every good thing that we do, but the book of Esther points out that Mordecai’s actions led to him being held in high esteem. He did what was right. He worked for the good of his people and spoke up for them and consequently was highly regarded.

So what can I do? I can do what is right. I can serve ‘my people’ appropriately. Sometimes ‘my people’ might be my immediate family, or my husband or another community, as well. But no matter whomever it is my time to serve, I need to serve well.

Prayer:

Lord, I think you are telling me not only to serve by working for the good of others, but also that those ‘others’ could be one person or many. And my bet is that definition of whom the others are will be changing throughout my life.

Okay WOW, I just had a revelation.

I have been serving an amazing internet community for about 5 years here on MomsToolbox, with the last several years being pretty intense with Bible in 90 Days. And over the past year, but especially the last few months, I have been shifting my service to my husband. And that is exactly where You are guiding me. Wow. This is is so clear to me! It’s not that you want me to completely stop serving anywhere else, (just as I did not stop serving him when Bible in 90 Days took over our lives)  but I think it is that you want me to shift my focus and support and honor him more now. It is his turn.

Oh wow.

Thank you God for that clarity. Thank you for showing me that. I am excited to honor him and serve him and see what’s next for us. Please, Lord, guide both of us as we need you and as we blaze ahead together. It has been an exciting ride already. I can only imagine what else you have in store. Thank you!

Are you reading alongside me? If so, what grabbed you in today’s passage?  Who are your people right now? Please tell me in the comments… 

If you disagree with something I’ve shared or another commenter shares, please remember to be respectful in your response back. You might even want to remember the old adage that you ‘catch more flies with honey than vinegar.’ Please use kind, respectful words or your comment may not remain.

Wondering what SOAP is? Click over to read What is SOAP?