When Your Ego Reigns

The message in Esther 3 is that Haman’s ego got the best of him. As we continue to read this book, we will learn the hazards that accompany an unchecked ego. 

Your ego is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. However, it is never in our best interest to allow it to guide our decision making unless it is paired with humility. Haman wanted people to bow down to him. When one Jewish person refused, he convinced the king to destroy all the Jews in the land. 

Let that marinate. Because one person “broke the law,” Haman was prepared to get rid of an entire sect of society. That’s how out of control our decision making will be if we let our ego reign. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Esther 3:5-6

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

Today’s Reading:

Esther 3

Do The Right Thing

Why do you do what you do? Is your goal to gain favor or fortune for your actions?

In this chapter, we see Mordecai do something because it was the right thing to do. What we will learn later in this book is his actions saved the lives of all the Jews throughout the land. I know that’s a leap, especially when you consider the circumstances surrounding my statement. As you read this book, consider this thought and let me know your thoughts. 

Of the many things we do not know, one of them is how God is going to use our actions. We do not know what the entire outcome of our actions will be. We do not know whose lives will be impacted by a decision we make. That’s why it’s important to do the right thing to the best of our ability. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Esther 2:21-23

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

Today’s Reading:

Esther 2

How Will You Get There

As I read this passage, I’m reminded that many of the turns my life has taken were made possible by things that had nothing to do with me. 

My current job as a high school teacher was made possible by decisions other people made without considering me at all. I just finished the best year of my teaching career. Many of the people whose lives God allowed me to impact were either not born or no older than two when I started teaching. This is my reminder that God is in control. 

Today we began reading the book of Esther. It is the only book in the Bible where God is not mentioned. However, He is implied throughout the pages of this book. God is sovereign. We will see His sovereignty on display over the next several days as we read this book. 

Remember to keep God first in your life and watch how He will always guide you to the perfect place, if you will listen and heed His word. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Esther 1:10-12

10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

Today’s Reading:

Esther 1How Will You Get There

As I read this passage, I’m reminded that many of the turns my life has taken were made possible by things that had nothing to do with me. 

My current job as a high school teacher was made possible by decisions other people made without considering me at all. I just finished the best year of my teaching career. Many of the people whose lives God allowed me to impact were either not born or no older than two when I started teaching. This is my reminder that God is in control. 

Today we began reading the book of Esther. It is the only book in the Bible where God is not mentioned. However, He is implied throughout the pages of this book. God is sovereign. We will see His sovereignty on display over the next several days as we read this book. 

Remember to keep God first in your life and watch how He will always guide you to the perfect place, if you will listen and heed His word. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Esther 1:10-12

10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

Today’s Reading:

Esther 1

“What Should I Say?”

When faced with the gossipers in your life, it can be easy to fall into the trap of gossiping. When you see the latest controversies on whatever platform you consume news, it can be a challenge to keep quiet. It begs the question, “what should I say.”

The answer is simple, when what you will say will not honor God, say nothing. As a Christian, you have authority in the name of Jesus. Do not take this authority lightly. With that authority comes great responsibility. Therefore, we must be careful not to join in the latest gossip trends, the latest controversies , and anything that takes our focus off Christ and puts it on something that does not have eternal consequences. 

What are the “happenings” in your life that make you want to say something? As you identify them, choose your words carefully. It isn’t that you should never speak on things, it’s that you should honor God with your words. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Titus 3:9-11

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Today’s Reading:

Titus 3

Be Respectful

Respect is an interesting thing. Some people tend to only give it when it is first given to them. This creates an interesting dynamic. What happens when two such like minded people meet? One can deduce that neither will ever respect the other since they believe respect is earned, not given. 

Paul contrasts this ideology with the final words in Titus chapter two. He tells Titus to teach in such a way that the people will not “despise” him. This word indicates a response to a wrong committed or a negative act. He is to rightly teach how to live well for Christ, with gentleness and respect. This way, people may not like what they hear, but it won’t be because Titus did not tell the truth in love. 

As you seek to share Christ with others, be mindful of how you share. I recently had to “call in reinforcements” because I knew I was about to say something that was not going to be received well. 

Shout out to Roselin, Gianna, and Mey for stepping in to help a brother in Christ when I was not the right person. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Titus 2:15

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Today’s Reading:

Titus 2

Discipled To Disciple

If you’ve spoken to me recently then you know that discipleship is heavy on my heart. In July, Agape Leaders will host the first of many discipleship retreats; at least we pray it is the first of many. 

When Jesus returned to Heaven, He said, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Mark, we are to make disciples. Paul took this commission seriously. 

Today we begin the book of Titus. It is a letter written by Paul to Titus. Paul left him in Crete to minister to the people. In a real sense, Titus was to disciple the believers of Crete so they could begin to disciple others. 

Discipleship is your commission as well. Who are you discipling or by whom are you being discipled? The work of discipling will never finish while you are on this side of Heaven. 

Please join us in prayer for the upcoming discipleship retreat. It is July 22-25, in Orlando. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Titus 1:5

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Today’s Reading:

Titus 1

Jumping To Wrong Conclusions

As I read this passage, I thought about how easy it is to take information and come to the wrong conclusion about something. The people of Malta did this twice with Paul. 

What causes us to jump to wrong conclusions? Most likely it is our lived experience. We see or hear something, think about what happened the other times we’ve seen or heard that, and conclude that if it happened the other times it will happen like that again.

Think about Christ healing the blind. He used saliva, mud, laying of hands, and words. He did whatever was needed in the moment, not a one size fits all healing process. 

In Christ, be careful not to jump to conclusions based on your lived experience, you might miss out on a miracle. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 28:3-6

3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Today’s Reading:

Acts 28

Accepting Godly Counsel

Who do you know that is a mature Christian? You should take their advice. I have two people in my life that if they say it, I listen. I will admit that sometimes I listen “begrudgingly.” But I listen. And by listen, I mean I take their counsel to heart and follow it. 

There have been times when I did not take their advice and things did not go my way. Be mindful that God has placed people in your life that He uses to guide you for His purposes. If you don’t allow Him to guide you in this way, He will remove that person from your life and allow you to go it alone. You do not want that. 

Therefore, cherish the presence of the mature Christians in your life. God is using them to guide you where He wants you to go. So listen well and live. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 27:21

21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss”

Today’s Reading:

Acts 27

Met With Indignation

I can think of nothing worse than being wrong about something important. It can be life altering. 

I believe this is why Paul was met with indignation by the unbelieving Jews. If they were wrong it meant that they were working against God. Thus, they refused to see what was right in their face; Jesus had come to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, and God raised Him from the dead as an acceptance for the payment of our sin. 

If they would have accepted the truth, it meant they had to admit they were wrong. Imagine admitting that your most important beliefs were wrong. It may be a tough pill to swallow, therefore you may choose to create a narrative that has your false beliefs seen as the truth. 

This is what Paul was up against. Fortunately, he was not alone. God was helping him. And He will help us too. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 26:21-23

21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Today’s Reading:

Acts 26

Why So Confident

As I read this passage, I was struck by Paul’s confidence in the face of death. He spoke with a firm authority as he defended himself and his beliefs. 

Why was he so confident? The answer is simple: he spent time with the Lord and trusted Him. Think about the difficulties of Paul’s life, yet he maintained his integrity in the Lord. This reminds me of Job. After all he lost, his wife said, “are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die.” 

Do you have the confidence in God that it takes to hold on to your integrity when trouble comes? Spend time with the Father. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you why you can be confident like Job and Paul. This is not only about you; it’s about the lives God will place in your path to share Him. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 25:6-8

6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.

8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Today’s Reading:

Acts 25

Are You Serious

People are going to lie about you, especially if you’re serving Christ! How you respond matters. Notice how Paul responds to the false accusations made about him. He did not “lose” his mind. He responded in truth and trusted God. 

Remember, God told him what was going to happen. Now Paul is experiencing the very thing God warned him about. It would be “crazy” for Paul to lose it when he should have already been expecting these things to happen. Always manage your expectations.

John, son of Zebedee, recorded Jesus saying, “In this world you will have trouble but take heart for I have overcome the world.” We do not know the exact trouble that is coming our way. We only know that trouble is coming. When it comes, remember Jesus’ words. If He has overcome the world, in Christ, so can we. Trust Him! Paul did. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 24:5-6

5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.”

Today’s Reading:

Acts 24

God Knows

This passage is a reminder that God’s plans are intricate. He shares with Paul a portion of His plan and the next thing we know, there’s a plot that seems like it will thwart God’s plan. It does not!

God knows what’s going to happen. He knows what we need to do to stay in His will for our lives. We do not. This is why it is important that we remain in a close relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Staying connected to God will work in our favor. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 23:11-13

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.13 More than forty men were involved in this plot.

Today’s Reading;

Acts 23

A Life In Christ

Think about Paul’s life in Christ. It was no day at the beach. Yet, his love for the Lord is unquestionable. What has God purposed for you to do? What hinders you from doing it?

I like to say that following Christ is easy and difficult. It’s easy because all you have to do is say no to anything God has told you not to do. It’s difficult because actually saying no is challenging. The only way to have a right relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit is to read your Bible daily, pray daily, and surround yourself with mature Christians. 

If you are not doing those three things with a focus on and a passion for Christ, you’re in danger (1 Peter 5:8) here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 22:17-21

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

Today’s Reading:

Acts 22

Believer Beware

This chapter in Acts reminds us that people can be easily manipulated. It was that way in Paul’s time and, unfortunately, it is that way today. Therefore you must beware as you walk with Christ. 

Jesus does not protect you from being falsely accused or being mistreated. He protects you from the consequences. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo were not protected from being thrown in the fire. Daniel was not protected from being thrown in the lion’s den. Paul was not protected from being stoned and flogged. And Jesus was not protected from going to the cross. They all endured the “punishment” and continued to serve God. 

We learn towards the end of Hebrews that some faithful believers will succumb to their “punishment” here on earth but a greater reward awaits them in an eternal life with God the Father. This is the ultimate protection from the consequences of being mistreated by others. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 21:27-29

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

Today’s Reading:

Acts 21

“He said WHAT?!”

Paul is a man who endured hardship. But what stands out to me is his willingness to serve God knowing full well that trouble and hardship awaited him. 

I am blessed to talk to many people. One thing that I notice is people try to avoid righteous discomfort. They have convinced themselves that a life in Christ must be a life in comfort. Paul’s words in this passage speak directly against that. He knew that as he shared the gospel, hardship awaited. 

What’s holding you back from seeking Christ wholeheartedly? Ask God to remove the comfort that keeps you “safe,” but fruitless. He will do it and the result will be you living a fruitful life in Christ. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 20:22-24

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Today’s Reading:

Acts 20

Mob Mentality

As I read verse thirty-two of this chapter, I thought about the concept of a mob mentality. People in the group did not know why they were doing what they were doing. It is possible that if they thought about what was happening, they may have realized it was not something they agreed with. Subsequently, they may not have eagerly participated in that event. 

We must be careful not to follow the crowd simply because a “new” teaching has come in Jesus’ name. God calls us to test teachings and see if they hold up next to the Word. 

When we do that we are far less likely to get caught following something that leads us away from Jesus Christ and how He has called us to live. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 19:32

32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.

Today’s Reading:

Acts 19

Be Teachable

This passage packs a great lesson, even with your extensive knowledge, you can learn more. Apollos was sharing well, but there was still more he needed to learn. Instead of taking the position of a “know it all,” he availed himself to people who loved the Lord and had more knowledge than he.

Are you teachable? No matter how knowledgeable we are on a subject, we can still learn from others. I cannot tell you the amount of things I learn from my students at the school where I teach. By taking a humble attitude with me daily, I’ve been able to grow in knowledge about things that have helped me better interact with my students. God has used this to open doors and soften hearts for me to share Him. 

If you want to grow in your faith, be teachable. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 18:26

26 (Apollos) began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Today’s Reading:

Acts 18

Reason Don’t Argue

Have you ever argued with someone about Christ or heard people argue about Christ? I have. Reading Acts 17 is a gentle reminder that there are different types of people around the world. How you approach them matters. 

In this chapter, Paul visits three distinctly different cities, yet he was able to impact people in all three cities. Why? Because he “reasoned” with them, he did not argue with them. 

The word reason, in this context, means dialogue. In other words, he had a conversation with people. He shared the word and listened to what they had to say. This is how we must be as well. 

With the volume of Christian content I post, it makes sense that I get plenty of “push back.” When it comes, I never argue. I ask pointed questions to gain clarification and if a person is set in their ways, I accept that God will do in their lives as He wills as they allow.

Here’s a hard truth, other people’s salvation is not in your hands. You must share the gospel and live a life for Christ, but it is God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit that brings salvation. But ultimately each person must receive salvation by their choice. Remember that. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 17:2-3

2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.

Today’s Reading:

Acts 17

When Trouble Comes

In his gospel, John records Jesus saying, “In this world you will have trouble…” I marvel at the number of professed believers who fall apart at the sign of trouble. Instead of leaning into their faith, they question the validity of it. This is no faith at all. 

On the contrary, we read in this passage that when Paul and Silas faced trouble they “sang hymns.” What’s notable about their response to trouble is that people were watching. This is true for your life as well. 

People are watching you when trouble comes your way, especially not of your own doing. You will not get a second chance to have a Christ-like response to a situation. Therefore keep your focus on Christ. Trust that God already has the solution to your issue. 

But note, when you walk yourself into the trouble because of poor decision making, consequences will follow. We see nothing to the contrary in the Word. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 16:25

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Today’s Reading:

Acts 16

Right & Wrong In The Lord

Is it possible to be right and wrong at the same time? This passage in Acts has me thinking it is. Paul does not want John Mark to accompany Barnabas and him on the next phase of their ministry. It gets so bad that the two part ways. 

In later letters from Paul, we learn that Paul sends for John Mark because Paul believed John Mark would be beneficial for Paul to have with him. 

Was Paul right to exclude John Mark from the ministry, while simultaneously being wrong to exclude him based on the potential to change? That’s a question for the Lord to answer. But it is certainly worth pondering.

Are you faced with a difficult decision? Seek the Lord. He will give you wisdom to make a decision that honors Him. If you are unsure of how to discern the voice of God, increase your Bible study time and eliminate all noise when you are reading. The Holy Spirit will begin teaching you the way of the Lord. This is how you will be able to recognize when God is talking and when He is not the one talking to you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Acts 15:36-38

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lordand see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

Today’s Reading:

Acts 15