The sorrow-turning, prayer-hearing, peacemaking God.
(Free Version) Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50
This week’s Lectionary texts can be found here.
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Our texts this week remind us to place our lives in God’s hands. We are not in charge. We are part of a bigger story.
The book of Esther (with focus this week on 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22) reminds us of the faithfulness of God, even in messy and violent circumstances. Though God seems hidden throughout story, God is working in and through its characters.
The book also reminds us of the ways that God works through everyday wisdom. Esther shows wisdom and cunning strategy in the midst of her very difficult circumstances. Likewise Mordecai is recognized for his effort to preserve the king’s life. The story is full of “coincidences” which are certainly not coincidences at all.
The story reminds us that we serve a God who is able to turn the sorrow of his people into gladness, and their mourning into a holiday (9:22). The Jewish festival of Purim (celebrated in March) stands as a celebration, a microcosm of the response of God’s people to God’s faithfulness. Ultimately, the Christian life is one of celebration of God’s faithfulness.
James (5:13-20) speaks of the importance of prayer: perhaps the central practice of our faith. We are to pray at all times: when we are suffering, cheerful, sick, or in sin (5:13-16). For God is our source. Like he did with Elijah (vs. 17-18), God will hear our cries. Just as with Esther, God is working in ways that we do not always see clearly. But He is always faithful.
Prayer is a relational, not a transactional act. We don’t have to jump up and down and run around in circles to get God’s attention. He is near and has decided to make us part of his family; that is the basis of our prayer.
Prayer is a posture of patience because we realize that we are not in control of the world; God is in charge. We pray instead of trying to be productive in that moment. We stop and we acknowledge that we can’t fix it.
Our gospel passage (Mark 9:38-50) speaks of the challenge of discipleship. Just as God called Esther in her specific time; just God calls us to patience and trust in the daily practice of prayer; we are regularly called to trust in God’s kingdom and not try to make it our kingdom.
Among other things this will mean: 1) God is using people outside of my “tribe” to bring about his kingdom, even those people who I do not agree or get along with very well (9:38-41). 2) Welcoming those who believe in Jesus is serious business, and to reject one of those “little ones” (vs. 42) or to act selfishly is deeply problematic. It will only lead to destruction (vs. 43-48). Like the disciples, if we are only concerned about our own status or what the kingdom can do for me, it’s like we are blindfolded and headed towards the garbage chute.
To trust God means becoming peacemakers in the family which God has formed around Himself. We can be “salty” people, full of flavor and full of peace.
*Our Deep Dive this week features an overview on the entire book of Esther. We feature quotes from Eugene Peterson as well as several early church fathers. In the section on James, we provide some pastoral guidelines for prayer and identify some common pitfalls. You can sign up for this in-depth (9+ page weekly brief) here.