A Lesson from Esther

Esther happens to be my most beloved Biblical figure, and I believe her story has many things to show us, but especially, how to interact with our King.

In the story of Esther, she spends her time bathing and soaking in extravagant oils. When further preparing to go before the king, she asks what the king would be most pleased with. I have a feeling it was fairly simple, and I am very much convinced that she was beautiful.

I think we need to embrace this mindset when coming before our King. Our question should be, "What can I do that will win your heart, Lord?" rather than "What do I have to do?" This may include time soaking in the extravagant oils of redemption, forgiveness, and grace. Then, wrapping ourselves in a beautiful garment -- an illustration of what is exclusively us. We adorn ourselves with exquisite jewels: purity, integrity, and longing for our King. But the most beautiful and moving part of this illustration is the overwhelming love and acceptance from our King as He draws us into deeper intimacy with Him. We didn't need to smother ourselves in religiosity or even do all of these things to be loved and accepted by Him. But out of worship and utter desire for our King, we do.

Bound4Life Prayer

Jesus, I plead your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation.

God, end abortion and send revival to America.

Extravagance

Once, long ago, there was a magnificent king. He reigned in justice and love, and his kingdom reflected his radiance. The king was wholly and deeply in love with a beautiful maiden who served in his palace, but he was restrained from confessing his love until he could make a proposal. To do so, he had to go to her homeland and bring back a valuable heirloom from the land, as was custom in those days. In this case, the heirloom was a golden key, delicate and beautiful.

Day after day, the king watched the maiden, memorizing her every move as she danced through he garden he had created for her. The maiden's beauty was so overwhelming that the king could take it no longer. He longed to make her his bride.

That very day, the king began to make plans to travel the foreign land, not knowing what to expect. He chose to go alone, because no one could have the same love for the maiden as he had, and without that love, no one will face what he may face in this foreign land. The king gazed upon the maiden one last time, his love for her overflowing, and set off for the foreign land of which she had come.

. . .

Once the king arrived in the land, he saw it was more terrible than he could have possibly imagined. With his maiden on his mind, he ventured into the square.

"Stop!" a man bellowed as the king was seized by some other equally harsh-looking men.

The magnificent king was diminished to a horrible criminal as he was beaten and bruised beyond recognition, then left in a dark, miserable cell for three mournful days. But as the whip came down again and again, the king could only see the face of his love - the beauty of her delicate features and the way her eyes lit up when she gazed upon him. He could endure as long as he could make her his bride. The thought of returning to the maiden made him fight so hard that the prison could no longer keep the king in bondage, and he obtained the key to the land.

. . .

Upon his return to the kingdom, he called out for the beautiful maiden, who had been longingly awaiting his return. As he finally gazed upon her and professed his love, he vowed to never leave her side, and she promised to love him for all of her days.

The wedding was the most beautiful in all the world, for the king had immense wealth, but he longed for only one thing - the unwavering love of his bride. The king called to his most honored scribes to write the love story of he and his bride, which told of the most extravagant love the world had ever seen.