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One Minute Lesson (Lesson 19)

Drama in the empire of King Xerxes :
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

(Esther 4:13-16 ESV)
Lesson 1

Truth must be spoken plainly. Don't sugar coat the truth. The truth may sound harsh to someone, but it needs to be said. Mordecai lays it plainly to his cousin : stop looking after number one or you and your father's house will perish.

Application 

Do you shy away from telling people the plain truth because you are too preoccupied with them liking you?

Lesson 2

Truth must be heard humbly. Don't run away from hearing rebuke rather immediately commit it to God. It seems to me that Esther would have been well within her rights to say, 'I am a woman, where are the men?....Shame on you, Mordecai, sending a woman to save an entire people!' But instead she did what she had always done, humbly heard the word of rebuke and committed it to God. She allowed the rebuke to escort her (and all Jews) into the presence of God.

Application 

Do you allow rebuke / criticism to deepen your devotion to Jesus or are you always feeling the need to defend yourself?
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