May 14: Esther Saved Her People (Mother’s Day)
Bible Passage: Esther
Christ Connection: Haman’s evil plan could not stop God. God had a plan for Esther to rescue the Jews. By saving the Jews, God made the way for His Son, Jesus, to come into the world.
Bottom Line: I can be used by God as a part of His plan.
Context:
You may never have said it aloud before, but there is a good chance that you have thought it: “If I just had ________ [fill in the blank with your greatest desire], then following Jesus would be so much easier.” What is your greatest desire? For some it may be money; for others, possessions; for others, power or a relationship or a feeling. We live in a broken world and may often fantasize about what life would be like if our ideals came to pass. We may even hurt or mistreat others in pursuit of our dreams—to gain that which we believe has the greatest importance. But the reality is that even if we have all that we want, there is still a great temptation to desire more and continue seeking our own good at the expense of others. However, we don’t find this temptation when we read about the life of Mordecai in the Book of Esther. We observe Mordecai’s journey from faithful adoptive father of a young girl in a foreign land to his becoming the king’s right-hand man. Mordecai was faithful. He was faithful to take in Esther, his cousin who was without father or mother. He was faithful to sit, wait, and watch every day at the gate of the king’s palace to see what God would do through this beautiful young woman. He was faithful to speak up with boldness and confidence, even at the threat of death. And he was faithful to lead beside the king in an honorable way, seeking the flourishing of the kingdom. Mordecai rose to a position of great power and authority. Many figures in power tend to forget their roots, turning to selfishness and unfaithfulness. Mordecai, however, did not. Read Esther 10:3. In our temptation to seek our own pleasure, we must remember that our Savior, Jesus Christ, “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). In remembering the work of Christ, we find not only an example to follow but also the power to do the same. Christ in us seeks the good of those around us. No matter how high or low our rank in the world, He is always good and always desires that we seek the good of those around us, for His glory.
Takeaways
- Our Bible story today teaches us that even when people have sinful plans, God is always in control and uses people to accomplish His plans.
- God put Esther in the position of queen to help His people in Persia. When God’s people were threatened, Esther responding with faith, obedience, and boldness to protect them.
- Even when things seem scary and out of control, we can remember that nothing surprises God. God is always in control of everything.
- When we live with faith, obedience,and boldness, God uses us to help others and to tell them about Jesus.
- Bottom Line: I can be used by God as a part of His plan.
Discussion Questions
- Why can you trust God at all times? Encourage kids to remember that God is always in control. Lead kids to understand that they do not have to be afraid or worry because God always does what is right and good.
- What did God do in today’s story to prove He is in charge? He put Esther in place as queen so that she could protect them against Haman’s accusations.
- What did Esther do when she realized that she had to do something? She asked for prayer and support. Then, she acted with great faith, obedience and boldness as she went to the king.
- How does God use people like Esther today? Lead your group to see how God, by His Spirit, leads us to obey Him and be bold for Him. Lead them to see how they can stand up for God and stand out for Him like Esther did.