Esther, Queen of Persia
[Internet Photo]
When my granddaughter, Brianna, and I met last Thursday for our discipleship/Bible study, the teenager we studied was Hadassah, the Jewish name of Esther, Queen of Persia, wife of King Ahasuerus [Xerxes I]. The Book of Esther is a small book in the Old Testament consisting of only 10 chapters.
Again we were reminded that God often uses ordinary, unlikely [from man's perspective], people to carry out His divine plan. Esther, like Mary, was a teenager when the story unfolds. She was an orphaned, captive Jewish girl - a minority alien, with no wealth. No one would have ever thought she'd become the Queen of Persia.
The character traits Esther possessed are not for teenagers only. They're attributes we should all strive to attain: Esther had a good attitude. She didn't become bitter over her circumstances. She honored, obeyed, and respected those in authority over her. She was humble, unselfish, patient, and had a deep faith in God. It was several years after she became queen that she understood why God had placed her in the palace. We won't always immediately see God's plans in our circumstances either.
Esther was said to be one of the seven most beautiful women of the world, but more importantly, she possessed inward beauty.
We left with the thought that teenagers should never think they're too young to make a positive difference in the world, and everyone has a purpose to fulfill. When we think our efforts are insignificant, we need to remember that little is much when God is in the equation.
May God bless your week!
Again we were reminded that God often uses ordinary, unlikely [from man's perspective], people to carry out His divine plan. Esther, like Mary, was a teenager when the story unfolds. She was an orphaned, captive Jewish girl - a minority alien, with no wealth. No one would have ever thought she'd become the Queen of Persia.
The character traits Esther possessed are not for teenagers only. They're attributes we should all strive to attain: Esther had a good attitude. She didn't become bitter over her circumstances. She honored, obeyed, and respected those in authority over her. She was humble, unselfish, patient, and had a deep faith in God. It was several years after she became queen that she understood why God had placed her in the palace. We won't always immediately see God's plans in our circumstances either.
Esther was said to be one of the seven most beautiful women of the world, but more importantly, she possessed inward beauty.
We left with the thought that teenagers should never think they're too young to make a positive difference in the world, and everyone has a purpose to fulfill. When we think our efforts are insignificant, we need to remember that little is much when God is in the equation.
May God bless your week!
The story of Esther was one of my favorites as a teen, when I studied it later as am adult, I found it no less inspiring. Have a great Sunday.
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