[featured_image]From my SOAP Journal… (learn about Soap Journaling here)
“The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was issued in Susa the capital; and while the King and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.” Esther 3:15
Haman’s evil plot to annihilate the Jews was approved by King Ahasuerus. The king’s decree was issued that all Jews (young and old, women and children) were to be destroyed and their possessions were to be seized as plunder! The couriers were sent to carry this message to all peoples in all 127 provinces in their own language (from India to Ethiopia).
After Haman’s plot was discovered, King Ahasuerus sent out another decree throughout his entire empire allowing the Jews in every city to assemble and protect themselves from any force that might attack them.
“A copy of the edict to be issued as law in each and every province was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers, hastened and impelled by the king’s command, went out, riding on the royal steeds; and the decree was given out in Susa the capital.” Esther 8:14
I’m challenged by this image of being a courier for a king. A courier is a messenger – one who delivers the king’s decree. In a very practical way, every Christian is a courier for the King! We have the incredible opportunity to communicate a message of hope to those who are under the king’s death sentence for their sin.
They were “hastened and impelled by the king’s command.” This impulsion drove them onward to deliver the king’s message! Christians have a divine impulsion to spread the message of deliverance through Christ!
“Now all these things are from God,
who reconciled us to Himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Christians are couriers who deliver a message of salvation through faith in Christ alone. As those who have received God’s mercy, we are now messengers of mercy to a people doomed for destruction because of their sin.
I will proclaim the hope of the gospel and encourage other Christians to take this message everywhere. Our hope and salvation is Christ! “For the wages of sin is death, the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 6:23
“Lord, I’m grateful for your salvation in my life. I realize that I deserve a death sentence as the payment for my sin. Yet, You choose to love me. You’ve issued the decree ‘Not Guilty’ because of Christ’s death on the cross. Help me to live as a forgiven one – and to courier this message to others! Amen.”
