To Honor & Celebrate

Based on Esther 9-10, Acts 7:1-21

"to stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, as the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor." Esther 9:21‭-‬22

Mordecai wanted the Jews to celebrate, remember & honor this time of liberation from the wicked plans of their enemies on a yearly basis. We all celebrate birthdays, Christmas and other holidays...but how often do we go back to remember our times of deliverance? Our times when God brought us out of a problem and carried us to the solution? If we don't go back to honor God & celebrate those times of liberation & overcoming, we will be overwhelmed by the next problem & forget God! These times of celebration are just as crucial as any other holiday!

"And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?" Esther 10:2

Mordecai was forever after recognized in God's Word as someone who should have had king status! That's because he stepped into a fatherly/leadership role for Israel when all they had was the favor of a foreign king. This is definitely an honor, and most definitely was worth many celebrations afterward! What if the Jews forgot about Mordecai? What if they forgot how Mordecai relied on God for a miracle in order to save their lives? They would never have had the strength to overcome anything in their future! It is so important to reflect on our bondage and honor & celebrate the liberation so we understand that with God, anything is possible!

Just before he was stoned, Stephen displayed an amazing example of a memorial sermon...remembering, honoring & celebrating those of the past to show how they led God's people into the present times of Christ. One example of someone he honored was Joseph:

"And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house." Acts 7:9‭-‬10

So many examples of God using what was meant for evil & using it for good! In Esther's case, Joseph's, and each & every one of us! The question is, will we go back to remember? Will we continue to thank God for getting us through the hard times, just as much as we celebrate Christmas? Jesus came into the world entering into hard times for us...taking that upon Himself...let us never forget to honor Him for what He has done in our lives, and use those instances as examples as we come to new challenges!