The Winning Team

Esther 3:12 – 15 “Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and little children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day. Spurred on by the king’s command, the couriers went out, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.”

I have to be honest. This scene gives me the creeps. To think that an edict was issued, which could not be reversed, to kill an entire race of innocent people . . . and Xerxes and Haman sat down to have a cocktail. It makes me absolutely sick to my stomach!

It made a lot of people sick to their stomachs. The city of Susa was bewildered. No one could understand why Xerxes would issue such a decree. What had the Jews done? Yeah, sure, they were a little odd, with their funny rules and their one God. But they were good neighbors, hard workers, and loyal friends. They had integrity. So why did Xerxes want to kill them?

And not only the men, either. He had ordered to kill innocent women and children, even babies! The people of Susa knew this was wrong. They shook their heads and tried to figure it out. But they didn’t question it. After all, the king had ordered it. They had no choice but to go along with it. What difference could one person make, anyway?

But it wasn’t just one person. Apparently, a great many people disagreed with the decree. Perhaps they were afraid of losing their own lives, if they stood against the king. They didn’t live in a democracy; they had been taught all their lives not to question the king’s authority. So they did nothing.

Friends, bad things happen when good people do nothing! How many times have we witnessed actions that we knew were wrong, yet we have refused to get involved for one reason or another? Perhaps we think we can’t make a difference. Perhaps the cost of taking a stand is just too great. So we shake our heads and say, “This is wrong.” But we do nothing. We just stand by and let it happen.

Let me encourage you today, as I encourage myself: Do what is right! Do what is right no matter the cost to you. Do what is right even when everyone else is doing the wrong thing. You may be surprised at how many people step up beside you. They may have been waiting for someone just like you to take the first stand.

Even if no one joins you, do what is right anyway. God will always be God, and He will have His way, just like He did during Xerxes’ time. But when all is said and done, I want to be counted among God’s team members. I want Him to look at me and say, “You stood on my side, even when no one else would.” His team is always the winning team. So, though none go with me, I want to follow Him, and do what is right.

Dear Father, Please give me the courage and integrity to do the right thing, even when everyone around me is doing the wrong thing.

Amen

7 Responses to The Winning Team

  1. June 23, 2008 #

    CHOE UPDATE: Hi everyone! Tomorrow (Tuesday), Jennifer and Mike will go through a training/education class for transplant patients, and Chloe will be discharged from the hospital to the Ronald McDonald House on Wednesday!

    All tubes but one have been removed, and she has been running around her room and playing with her toys! She has even given some genuine smiles, and was actually flirting with my husband last night!

    What can I say? He is a handsome man.

    Praise God!

  2. June 24, 2008 #

    Dear Renae,
    I am praising God for showing his greatness through little Chloe.

    It’s evident that you love your husband, but have your kitchen been redecorated yet??
    Just teasing. Mine (kitchen that is ) has not been remodeled for a good 20 years except for the floor tiles, but I still love my hubby.

    The integrity thing is extreme important these days, when most people are solemnly focused on being well like by their superiors and making succesful carriers.
    My Mom sent me out in the world with the one exhortation,”Remember to work for God’s face only. He who’s seeing everything should be the one to please.”
    I’ve never forgotten it, even passed it on to my daughter, but I do not think I’ve been able to do the right things always.
    Oh, Renae, I am so old, and your writings make me review my life for good and worse.
    I like it too though, gives me new perspective on things, and when I summon up, at least I can testify; God has been faithful, and he has never given me up.
    Yours Felisol

  3. June 24, 2008 #

    LOL, Felisol! Still waiting on the kitchen. But I do have a contractor here this week working on my bathroom, so I won’t complain!

    Not to one-up you or anything, but my kitchen is over thirty years old! LOL! The house was built in 1977, and still has most of the original appliances. But it will happen when it happens, right? 😉

    What wonderful wisdom, passed down through the women in your family. My mother is wise like that, too. I am so blessed.

    I think God’s Word makes us “review our lives,” don’t you? The more I study His Word, the more I see the things I need to work on in my life. But Praise God, He sees me as a work in progress, and He hasn’t given up!

    Yes, He has been faithful. And that is something we can only learn more and more with age. Thank you so much for your wisdom and your perspective – your input adds so much here, my friend!

    –r

    By the way, I think we are here at the same time. It is the middle of the night, and I should be sleeping, but I caught this comment as it popped up! I’m going to bed now. 🙂

  4. June 24, 2008 #

    All I could think of reading this was the quote from Pastor Martin Neimoeller – a survivor of Dachau concentration camp;

    “They came for the Jews.
    I was not a Jew. So I said nothing.
    Then they came for the Catholics.
    I was not a Catholic. So I said nothing.
    Then for the trade unionists and industrialists.
    I was neither. So I said nothing.
    Then they came for me – and there was no-one left to say anything.”

    As you say, Renae, bad things happen when good people do nothing.

  5. June 24, 2008 #

    Jackie, you come up with the best quotes! Perhaps you should be writing this blog! 🙂

    Excellent example. Great food for thought. Thanks, friend!

    –r

  6. June 24, 2008 #

    Wrong is still wrong no matter if every one is doing it.
    Right is still right no matter if no one is doing it.

    Mom

  7. June 24, 2008 #

    Hmmmm . . . where have I heard that before?

    Oh! From you, hundreds of times during my life! 🙂

    Thanks, Mom!

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