Esther 2:7,11,20
He spiritually adopted him as a child in the faith (Acts 16:1-3).
Yet Timothy did not say that he was not a son to Paul, because he was converted before he met Paul. He accepted Paul to be his mentor, minister, pastor and shepherd. What would Timothy have become without the encouragement and upliftment of his mentor. He was able to achieve and be the person he ought to be because of this mentoring. Timothy was a trustworthy son and served faithfully (Philippians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 4:16-17). He knew what Paul taught in every church because he was with him in all those churches during their missionary journeys, and Paul had confidence to send him out to represent him in the churches, assured that he would bring unabridged reports true to the situation on ground. Pray that you will be such a son in Jesus Name. “Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do” (1 Corinthians 16:10).You will not see any difference between Timothy and Paul, because he accepted the teaching and training, and all these turned his life for the better. The teachings and training that we receive will turn our lives around for the better in Jesus’ name.
Esther recognised a gracious opportunity, not by merit, for Mordecai to pour his very life into her. And there is nothing we can give to real God-sent Mordecai-mentor, it is just a privilege and opportunity that none of us should miss, and you will not miss your chance.
Point 2. THE GRATEFUL OBEDIENCE TO HER MORDECAI-MINISTER
Esther 2:20; Proverbs 22:6; 1:7-15; 3:11,12; 4:1-4; 5:7-9; 6:20-29; 7:24-27
He was a minister to her, and she rendered not a false, compelled, painful, reluctant but grateful obedience to him. “Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him” (Esther 2:20). Esther’s obedience was not a grudging, compelling, eye-service, temporary, selective, deceptive, nor self-centred obedience. She was grateful and graceful in her obedience; it was a heartfelt and heart-warming one. She was pleasant and pleasing, thoughtful and thankful, very pure and purifying (she never posed a temptation to Mordecai), constant and complete, prompt and proper (Mordecai never asked her to do anything improper), prayerful and priceless, scriptural and sacrificial. Such people must get to the throne. Who is your mentor now? God will not separate you from your mentor. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8). Honour and respect your father and mother, that when they show you the way to go, you will not neglect their instructions. You will not go astray in Jesus’ Name. “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding” (Proverbs 4:1). Be willing to be instructed by your mentor, pastor, minister and parent and be teachable. “Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel” (Proverbs 5:9). If Esther had given her flower to the street boys and the goodness originating in her had been given away, would she get to the throne? She would have missed the opportunity. You will not do anything today that will take the throne away from you. The Lord will watch over you and will not allow you in a moment of pleasure to give in to their pleasure like Samson that lost his eyes due to the pleasure from Delilah. You will not lose what God has ordained for you to achieve in life; you will achieve, and we will rejoice over you in Jesus’ Name. “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The world is dark, it is the commandment and law that shed light as lamp on our ways as we navigate through this journey of life. Don’t allow self-confidence to cause you to fall.
