Esther Chapter 3

Study notes from Esther Chapter 3 (theme verse Malachi 3:16)

Quote--“Everything that is not God serves a purpose higher than itself. Nothing is to be justified as “an end in itself” or “for its own sake.” John Piper

Esther parallels many Proverbs and this one fits Xerxes and Haman, “If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked” Proverbs 29:12.

3:1-2, Xerxes promotes Haman, an Agagite,(1 Samuel 15:1-9), to Prime Minister. Chapter 2 concluded with Mordechai the Jew unrecognized for saving the king’s life, yet chapter 3 opens with the promotion of an enemy of the Jews. *Bible commentators agree Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jews was maybe a plot of Satan’s to stop the birth of Jesus.

(2:21-23) Mordecai never demanded recognition. Sometimes a good work will go unnoticed.

3:2, Xerxes again shows his lackadaisical governing by giving special treatment to Haman, whom he has not properly vetted. Everyone must to bow when Haman walks by, not because he is royalty, but by law. It sounds like a lobbyist’s addition to a government bill. A last minute tacked on codicil, “I promote Haman, the Agagite to Prime Minister, um, oh yeah, and everyone must bow to him.

3:2, Mordechai is a part of Xerxes court (2:21), a good social position. Compliance to the order was the easy way to go. The small compromise was the simple route, but he chose to expose his Jewishness by not bowing to Haman. Christians may find they easily compromise the simpler things but that should never be.

(2:10) Esther hid her heritage, yet changed the atmosphere around her. Mordecai was open of his faith, and changed the atmosphere around him. Each made a beautiful statement for God. Witnessing has no pattern. God designed many members in the church body preforming differently and each empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:1-15)

When rules are enacted against Christian values, people watch to see if Christians will stand on their faith or compromise under their threats. (1 Peter 3:15-17) The simple act of Christian public prayer is often attacked. 3:3-7,

The palace social order watched Mordecai’s rebellion with interest. When Haman failed to notice, they told him to see his reaction. (Proverbs 27:4) By his uncompromised stand, Mordecai exposed Haman’s darkness. (Ephesians 5:26)

Jesus said(to us) “You are the  light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16.

#Haman’s problem was his own character and Mordecai was exposing it by not saying a word.

Mordecai and Haman bookend this Proverb, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” Proverbs 28:6. Haman held a precarious social position in a weak kingdom destined to fall in a few years. Mordecai had power from Almighty God’s eternal kingdom.

Jesus tells us, “He who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” Matthew 10:38,39. This was Mordecai’s witness. Mordecai’s love for God was stronger than life on earth. Mordecai’s faith in eternal life through God was greater than the threat of death by an Agagite at the order of a Persian king. (1 Peter 5:8)

3:6-11. Haman has no respect for his king. By planning to commit genocide before addressing the king, he has elevated himself to the level of the king. Haman doesn’t sit on the throne of Persia. The Jews are not in his power to exalt or destroy, yet he has everything in place before he approaches the king with a half-truth. A half-truth is still a lie. And he used flattery of promised wealth and power to persuade Xerxes, thus proving Proverbs 26:23)

Satan also attempted to exalt himself above his King? Isaiah 14:12-15

3:9,10, Haman’s proposal is similar to what many societies are doing to Christians around the world by enacting laws to annihilate us. Like King Xerxes, many Governing officials do not understand the horrible wrong those laws do to their own positions. If groups or cultures could erase Christianity, nations would lapse into complete chaos. (2 Thessalonians 2)

3:12, In the approved document, it seems Hebrew is the only excluded language. For the Jews scattered throughout the Persian Empire, this must have been a frightening thing to read. They have no clue why Xerxes has ordered them killed. They have months of oppression, waiting to be attacked in their own homes. Maybe some lost their jobs, others might have fled their cities, hoping to escape.

3:14,15. When the document was posted in the capital, the ordinary person was astonished. Because Mordecai’s action took place in the palace, (3:2), Haman’s hatred maybe hadn’t been generally publicized. So seeing the decree without cause would be very unsettling not only for the Jews but for everyone.

*"The edict bewildered the people in the city of Susa (Shushan) Apparently such a decree had never before come from the royal court. Haman’s bloodthirstiness, along with Xerxes seeming indifference to such atrocities was incredible even to a sophisticated society which was used to cruel behavior. Perhaps other minority populations wondered if they would be next to be annihilated". (Bible Knowledge Commentary, pg 706)

3:8, & 15, Haman lied to the king about why the Jews should be killed. (again Prov. 26:23). For Haman the less the king knew the better. For if such a paltry matter were revealed, the death penalty might be more an embarrassment to Xerxes. As it was, the city couldn’t figure out the king’s unreasonable order.

3:15 Ch 1 the king made a law while drunk. Now with the decree in place, Haman and Xerxes sat down to drink. What a shame to the kingdom. (Prov. 31:4,5) “Like a roaring lion and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over poor people” Proverbs 28:15. Xerxes and Haman, Weak and wicked.

Lesson points:

1. Your good works may never be rewarded in your life on earth

2. Sometimes we need to be a silent witness for God like Esther, sometimes we need to be an open witness for God like Mordecai. (Matthew 10:38,39)

3. Know the enemy; take special interest in how he works. (1 Peter5:8)

4. It takes knowledge and faith to hold on when everything seems lost.

Extra reading: Mordechai’s faith and witness examples for us found throughout the Scriptures. Holiness to God amidst unholy unbelief needs faith that God will keep His promises. Mordecai showed what a man ‘standing in the gap’ can do for his family and his nation. Ezekiel 22:30., Hebrews 11:25,26., Daniel1:8, 6:10., Psalm 18:39., Joshua 1:9., Jeremiah 1:18,19., John 17:16., Matthew 28:18-20., Acts 1:8., Romans 12:21., 2 Corinthians 5:7., Ephesians 6:10-18., Philippians 1:6, 3:20., 4:4-9,. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24.

*Historical information from Bible Knowledge Commentary & Commentary, study notes of J. Vernon McGee

#Edited

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Esther Chapter 2

These are the notes from the second study from the Book of Esther. Esther chapter 2

2:1 ; *It’s been three years since the war party. King Ahasuerus failed to conquer Greece, and returns to Shushan in humiliation. Adding to his shame, he remembers the stupid law. Vashti still belongs to the King but wherever she’s being kept, her quarters would be more of a prison than a home. She can’t be thrown out for she’s the former Queen, and she can’t be tossed into the harem for the same reason. Xerxes problem, he doesn’t have a Queen beside him while he attempts to reorganize his kingdom and its defeated army. His kingdom is a shambles.

The most amazing thing? God sees all and knows all. There is nothing in the hearts of all mankind that God doesn’t know about. God even sees what is coming. Almighty God is without equal!

The king has concubines galore, but the throne needs a woman of beauty with a sound reputation, whom the court approves joined to the king with a proper setting. An already owned sex-slave cannot fill that position. Just like in chapter 1—two wrongs don’t make a right.

In ch 1, it was the wise men who instructed the king to write the law dethroning Vashti. Ch 2:2, it’s not even the wise men but his servants suggest gathering virgins for the king to choose a queen from.

So the order goes out to herd young women to the palace, like cattle. Conscripted by order, yanked from their homes and parents arms, many never to be seen by family again. They were essentially kidnapped for the king’s pleasure.

Can you imagine the crying? The terror? The sorrow that they will never be loved wives, or mothers? No homes, nor husbands or children to take care of? Only one can be Queen, the rest will be sex-slaves for the rest of their lives.

2:2-4. It’s not his wise men but his servants that advise him now. And this thing pleased the king. The thing being kidnapping beautiful girls. What do you think? (In a moral society, this would, should be, be sickening.)

2:5,6,7. God inserts Himself in between Xerxes idea & his implementing it. By inserting Mordecai into the palace, God has changed the outcome already.

2:5-6. God shows up! God is so amazing. Although never mentioned, Holy God appears regularly in the movement of different events and different lives. Something horrible is about to happen but Almighty God inserts His presence into the story.

It’s like Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. God knew they would need powerful encouragement, as the persecution became very heavy in that city. God sent them a wonderful love letter through Paul’s hand. Thessalonians 2:7-12. You need God—God shows up!

Mordecai lives in the Capital city, and more importantly, he has retained his heritage. This is more proof of God appearance in this book---the choice of Mordecai as a devout Jew, strong in his faith and the pride of his heritage.

What can Christians express pride in? (Psalm 34:2, 44:8, 2 Corinthians 9:2, Galatians 6:14)

God told the Jews to always remember their families names and heritage. It seems Mordecai was born while his family was captives, as it was his great great grandfather who was carried away from Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar captured the city. (2 Kings 24:14) Kish must have been a mighty man in Jerusalem, because the best were taken during the first captivity. Kish was taken the same time as Daniel, but he wasn’t placed with Daniel with the eunuchs, as he certainly had children.(1st captivity Jeremiah 29:5-7) (Forbidden Marriage Due 7:1-3, Joshua 23:11-12, Ezra 9:1,2)

It seems Kish and his decedents kept their Jewish linage clean from inter marriage.

For some reason Mortdecai did not return to Jerusalem when Ezra and Nehemiah returned to rebuild. He and his family still reside in the capital Persian city of Shushan.

Esther has the same clean Jewish Lineage as Mordecai. And she is hauled off to the palace with the rest of the young girls. Her prospects of a Jewish family line ends. 

There is another young girl we know in the Bible whose family heritage was kept pure for an awesome reason. Who is that young girl? Mary. (Matthew 1:1-17)2

2:9 Esther’s character was different than any of the other girls in the harem. And her difference was noticed by the major guard of the woman, Hegai. He knew there was something different about her and he treated her with a greater respect than he did all the other women there.

2:8,9. Esther exposed the darkness of the king’s harem by her difference. Her personal holiness in a dark place made her godly character standout among the crowd, thus creating a different atmosphere around her. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

2:10, Esther is an ambassador of her people and of God. Daniel’s account was a historical fact in the Jew’s history of their captivity. There could not have been many that didn’t know how Daniel stood up for his Jewish heritage. But unlike Daniel, Esther kept her Hebrew blood a secret but she retained her learned character.

We may never have an opportunity to speak of our Christian heritage, but our character needs to be the higher standard. It doesn’t matter where we are, who we’re with, we have the mind of Christ, we have the power of God, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. There needs to be something extraordinary about our holy conduct that even the ungodly will have to take notice.

What is holiness? What are some holy actions? Things Christians do or don’t do publically that sets them apart from the world?

Esther was different from the other women, and her difference gave her an edge in becoming Queen. Hegai was on the look-out for Queen qualities, it was part of his job. And by her more beautiful, composed, lady-like behavior, she expose the hidden things of darkness. She shined brighter in a room full of lesser characters.

Esther was beautiful but she went through the beauty treatments to make her gorgeous. Her beauty treatments went on for a year.

God says women are to shine with an inner beauty, which will shine through any mars of our outward frailties. We’re familiar with the woman of 1 Peter 3, and the Proverbs 31, woman)

We’re the Bride of Christ. We need an extraordinary interest in making ourselves beautiful in Christ.

We have a simpler beauty treatment with less stress. We’re already the Bride of the King. You want to be made beautiful? To have the inner beauty of the heart?

The Bible is your beauty treatment. Get into God’s word to be cleansed from the world. John 17: 17, Ephesians 5:22-27, Titus 3:5, Proverbs 31:17,18 & 30,

We have the Shulamite as our example also, of the love of God shining our beauty that no one else can comprehend. Loving God will draw out the beauty that only He can see in a woman.

You want to have a successful beauty treatment? Get into the word of God. Pray, read, fellowship, worship. Determine to make the effort to love the Lord with all your heart, your strength, your mind. You will be beautiful and others will see it. They may not understand it, but they will certainly see it.

2:21-23. When the trouble came, Mordecai and Esther were able to do the right thing, the right way, to have the right decision made to stop the wrong. This was just a foretaste of their work to come. And now God has Mordecai moved into the palace business district. He’s one of the movers’ and shakers in the palace politics. He’s gaining a reputation as a man of integrity. His peers trust his wisdom. They may hate him but they know he’s an honest man.

Christians need knowledge of the world. God says be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves. God says the serpent is crafty. Know the ins and outs of ruthlessness business, yet conduct business with different deliverance & purpose.

Esther and Mordecai from different positions, exposed the hidden darkness.(Ephesians 5:8-13.)

Lesson Points:

1. God knows the innermost secret hearts of all people.

2. Boast of your salvation in Christ

3. As the Bride of Christ, take an extraordinary interest in making yourself beautiful for Christ Jesus.

4. The Bible is your beauty treatment. Let God’s word cleanse you from the world.

*Historical information from Bible Knowledge Commentary & Commentary, study notes of J. Vernon McGee

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Plagued Unto Death

"The Fool has said in his heart 'There is no God'."

Psalm 14:1.

Some will never accept God sovereignty, even after He proves Himself as the Almighty God.

Pharaoh was the fool, as he repeatedly rebelled against the truth of God's existence and power.

(God said) "but if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs" Exodus 8:2

And God brought the frogs, which although they upset Pharaoh, his heart was hard, and he didn't change. He asked that God remove the reptiles, and after the frogs were gone, he recanted his word to let the children of Israel go. he didn't believe God could be that powerful, nor that jealous.

What's a few frogs anyway? And if Moses' God was so great how did it happen Pharaoh's magicians brought forth frogs in a like manner?

But magic is an illusion, and deception. If the land was filled with frogs by God's hand, then showing the conjuring appearance of some frogs must have been a simple trick.

On the other hand, the next plague was lice from the dust. And that miracle Pharaoh's magicians couldn't duplicate. For the lice was on the people and the animals. If they themselves were covered with lice, then how can they conjure up the effect and deceive the audience? There comes a time when charlatans will be exposed.

Pharaoh had a front row seat, yet he still fought against Almighty God. For this proud man, he scorned the might of Israel's God. The plagues were upsetting and bothersome but they weren't threatening his throne. Pharaoh was still king of Egypt.

And so the plagues go on for months. For a time, God brings them on both Egypt and the children of Israel. Then, to show His people that He is fighting on their behalf, God makes a distinction between the two nations. Instead of fearing the plagues, a great hope begins growing the hearts of the children of Israel.

Then God says to Pharaoh, regarding the final plague, "But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel" Ex 11:7

Death is a serious action that God never intended for anyone. But 100% of 100% people die. It's a fact.

Pharaoh thought Almighty God was the same as his gods, but he was wrong. The gods of Egypt were of Egypt's making. The God of Israel is Eternal God. He is the I AM, forever and ever, without beginning and without end.

The last sign that God gave Pharaoh was the plague of the death of the firstborn of Egypt.

"And the LORD said to Moses, 'I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether" Ex 11:1.

"And it shall be, when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.' So the people bowed and worshiped." Ex 12:26,27.

This is the night where the children of Israel are set free from slavery and the stubbornness of sin in Pharaoh destroys his nation.

The children of Israel bowed and worshiped GOD when He announced what was happening. That is so wonderful an example of our attitude of worship.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction"

Proverbs 1:7.

"Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path" Proverbs 2:5-9.

Pharaoh was the fool who refused to learn to know the Almighty, Living GOD. later, after changing his mind again, Pharaoh pursues the children of Israel to the Red Sea, where he dies. he and his army drown in the Red Sea when God lets the water back to normal. So in his rebellion, even in the face of God's proof, Pharaoh was plagued to death by his own pride.

The children of Israel, on the other hand, came to the knowledge that their GOD is Almighty, Awesome God, and they fell down in worship.

Unlike Pharaoh, who scorned the truth with every proof he saw, there comes a day when Christians should see God as Almighty GOD. It give us freedom to worship in a higher level.

Worship is our best response once we come face to face

with the awesome knowledge of Holy God. 

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The Sovereignty of God Maintains the Holy Bible

While there may be some discrepancies between copies and versions of the Holy Bible today, we have no business claiming it has errors, or that any parts are not inspired by God. We do have very old copies in original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, but God is the only One who has true knowledge of the contents of the originals. That does not make our copies erroneous, or not part of inspired Scripture, for God's sovereignty maintains the accuracy of the Holy Bible.

Almighty GOD is not living within our time. Time was created for us.

He sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10). God is talking to Adam in the Garden of Eden, even as He is accepting our worship on the new earth. He is Eternal. Time does not exist in God's realm of eternal being. GOD is the I AM.

God is instructing Moses to write the 1st five books of the Bible. He is overseeing Jeremiah write his books. Matthew, Mark, Luke & John are writing the gospels per God's guiding inspiration even as you sit and read the Holy Bible at your table in this instant. Pick a writer of one of the 66 books of the Bible and God by His infinite wisdom is having it penned even as you think on it.

Hold your fingers together as tight as possible, until they hurt. The space between your fingers is still longer than your lifespan.

God indwells His people yesterday, today and forever. (John 14, Ephesians 1:13,14, Galatians 3). He indwells believers before us and He will indwell believers after us. (even if we are raptured today)
In every Bible study, or Biblical teaching/preaching, the eternal existing God is actually watching over the person writing the book we are reading at the same instance.

I am not talking multiple dimensions, I am talking about God's BEING. God IS the I AM.

WOW! WE SERVE AN AWSOME GOD!!!

The Bible that the world has today, no matter what version, or language is being preserved by God Himself, outside of time. This is the Holy Bible of the Christian, not the religious books of other world beliefs.

If any parts of the Bible could be in error, in any language or translation, then don't you think Almighty God is able to correct His word, which He is overseeing the writings of even now?

We don't have the originals, but God does.

If today's Bible study guides are exalted over the Holy Bible, that's saying to God the writers of the study guides know more about the Bible than He does.

Consider the danger of your own error attempting to correct God.

Considering that the Author of the Bible is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God, if you decide that you can identify parts of the Holy Bible that are in error, consider these two scenarios:

#1

For some spectacular reason, you can move through the dimensions of Time and Space.

Today, a Christian brother has just watched a group of ISIS militants rape and murder his wife. In the next hour he will be beheaded for his faith in Christ. But he is steadfastly remembering the verses he has memorized from his Bible as he faces this horrible death. (it doesn't matter what language or translation the Bible is written in, it's a Holy Bible, maintained by Sovereign God)

Suddenly, you pop into his presence and announce, "My Bible study guide says that certain parts of certain translations and versions of the Bible are wrong and are not inspired by God because we have discovered they are not in the 'Best Manuscripts". We have decided that they are in error and we no longer teach them as being the inspired words of God."

And you disappear as suddenly as you arrive, leaving this brother alone wondering if the verses he has memorized are the parts that are not Inspired by God.

#2

Still jumping through Time and Space, you travel back to a cold, dark cell in the German Concentration Camp Ravensbruek, where two young women are huddled together with a Bible open between them. One is reading scripture to her dying sister. (it doesn't matter what language or translation the Bible is written in, it's a Holy Bible, maintained by Sovereign God)

Suddenly, you pop into their cell, point to their Bible and say, "In the future, we learn that certain parts of certain translations and versions of the Bible are wrong and are not inspired by God because we have discovered they are not in the 'Best Manuscripts". So we have decided that they are in error and we no longer teach them as being the inspired words of God."

And just as suddenly, you disappear from their sight, leaving Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, holding worthless scraps of paper.

What has your knowledge just done to these people who have no access to whatever Bible study guide you may have read. Where is your proof that your Bible study guide is true and their Bible's are wrong? Your so-called knowledge gained form your study guides is of no advantage.

Only God has the knowledge to maintain His word as without error and all Scripture is inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16)

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
Scripture is of any private interpretation,

for prophecy never came by the will of man,
but holy men of God spoke as they

were moved by the Holy Spirit"
2 Peter 1:20,21.

But of Bible Studies and study guides, the bookshelves are breaking from the strain. Be very careful of what you read outside of the Bible itself, for God has not breathed the words of Bible Study Guides, only the words of the Holy Bible. (John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Peter 1:20, 21, Rev. 22:18,19, Is. 55:10,11, Eccl. 12:11.12,13,14.)

If something you read has an argument pointing to an error, stop and hold up any version of the Bible and say to the One who sits on the throne in Heaven, "Holy Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient GOD, because of this or that I've read about Your word, I know for certain that this text of this Bible is in error and is not inspired by You. You, Almighty God must have made a mistake putting this into this version of Your Bible, because this man, or this woman said so. So, now You, God are corrected by my knowledge."

Aren't you putting a lot of confidence in the idea the authors of study guides know more than God knows about His word?

Then you are telling God He is not Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God.

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A Good Commentary or The Bible?

Do you need to read commentaries when you read the Bible? Do you spend your devotional and study time reading other people's writings more than the Bible?

While there are many great books written by godly men and women, those writings are not God inspired nor are they alive with Godly power the way the Bible is. (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)

If you enjoy books about the Bible more than enjoying reading the Bible for yourself, you're missing out on the voice of God speaking to you. You're missing out on God directly teaching you.

God has placed His power in His word. Knowledge and understanding are found in the Bible. Knowledge and understanding of war and peace, of life and death, of honesty and deceitfulness, of working and laziness, of money and spending, of having and giving, of marriage and parenting, of learning and practical wisdom, of God's miracles and false testimonies, of truth and heresy, of love and blasphemy.

And the Bible instructs us of Jesus' grace, love, compassion and mercy. Of Jesus' justice and wrath.

It teaches to see where Satan works his evil and where he is delivering murder and destruction to the world he hates.

All this wisdom is found between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.

Brothers and sisters, read the Bible more today than ever before.

"But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' Matthew 4:4.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" John 1:1-4.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:14.

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Are They All Spiritualy Healthy?

Are you concerned about the Spiritual health of your brothers and sisters?

Do you think because someone is a member of your assembly that they have a good grasp of their salvation in Christ?

Or because someone comes on Sunday, or to any studies, or Bible activities in your church building that they are safely living their new life of Christ in the world?

God shows us that just by asking a few simple questions, we can find out the spiritual health of a fellow believer. To know this, read the gospels and the book of Acts to see how the many gifts of God are used to bring people to know Jesus and His death on the cross. It was for their Spiritual needs; the immanent necessity of knowledge to obtain the righteousness given by Jesus' death on the cross.

God has more concern for the spiritual health of His people than their physical needs.

"Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" Matthew 6:31-33

• We trivialize the cross of Jesus Christ by making it pretty.
• We make the cross of Jesus Christ frivolous by making it a symbol.
• We accessorize the cross of Jesus Christ as what God did from love.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the wrath of God.

"The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is in unconscious blasphemy."

Oswald Chambers: My Utmost for His Highest

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" Proverbs 1:7

"Bear one another's burdens , and so fulfil the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2.

(Jesus said), "This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you" John 15:12

Ask a few questions to see how your brothers and sisters in Christ are doing in their Christian walk and help them where they need strengthening.

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