Focus: The Christian

Text: Esth.2:5

"Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain JEW, whose name was MORDECAI, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite."

The book of Esther is about this man known as "Mordecai the Jew." All through the book he is presented as Mordecai the Jew.

"Mordecai the Jew" - 5:13.

"Mordecai the Jew" - 6:10.

"Mordecai the Jew" - 8:7.

"Mordecai the Jew" - 9:29.

"Mordecai the Jew" - 9:31.

"Mordecai the Jew" - 10:3.

Not Mordecai the prophet or priest. Not Mordecai the saint or seer. Not Mordecai the orator or preacher. He is not known by any titles, but simply as a Jew. He is identified by his race, and being a Jew here means being a godly person. He lived and worked as a Jew in a foreign land. He didn't ever hide his identity. He was always conscious of his identity and destiny, and followed the path of integrity. As a God-fearing Jew he bowed to no man, but only to God. Esther 3:2 says, "And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. BUT Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence."

Mordecai was not ready to comply with the king's commandment as far as it didn't line up with God's own commandment. His loyalty as a Jew was first to God. He transgressed the king's commandment to keep the commandment of his God. He stood out for God. He chose consistency and resisted compromise. The Jewish race was a godly race. God was at the center of the Jewish religion and culture.

As a Jew Mordecai trained and raised Esther. Esther 2:20 says, "Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him." Mordecai had firm faith and strong convictions in God.

"For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater" - Esth.9:4.

That is Mordecai the Jew. He attained greatness in a strange land by just being Mordecai the Jew.

As Mordecai the Jew he triumphed over the evil Haman and his cohorts.

As Mordecai the Jew he guided Esther to royalty, and loyalty to a noble cause.

As Mordecai the Jew he rose to a position of honor in a foreign land.

Can you just be that person who today will live, talk, walk, work and love as a Christian in this ungodly world? No bowing of the knees to the gods of this world.

O Lord, help me be Moses the Christian in this godless and unchristian world!

Let my light shine forth in this world of darkness. Let me not be known just by my titles and credentials, but simply by my identification with Christ - Moses the Christian. No more, no less, and certainly no airs. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter