Wednesday, September 24: Esther 1- There is always a back-story.

It may not be obvious, but God is working His plan. God can and does use people who do not believe in Him in the working out of His plan. The entire incident of chapter one sets up the rest of the story in which the people of Israel, God’s people, are saved.

At the time the Israelites would have had no idea that God was at work, but He was.

This reminds me that in the headlines of today, God is at work. It may not be obvious to me how God is working or what ‘angle’ God is working, but He is.

Good times or bad times, God is working.

Roman’s Pax Romana, an unprecedented time of peace with wonderful roads and shipping lanes turned out to be the time of the Messiah. Pax Romana allowed the Word of God to spread with incredible speed and agility. God was at work!

A guy named Saul stood approvingly as Stephen became the first Christian martyr. This terrible event launched the church into mission and very likely Stephen’s prayer for Saul was instrumental in Saul’s eventual conversion.

The inventing of the printing press, the German reformation, on and on the pages of history show that God is at work... working His plan that all may know He is Lord.

God is at work today. We may not understand how or where but He is at work.

Trust God … pray for His kingdom advance … seek to live faithfully every day.

Lord, may I have eyes to see, ears to hear and most importantly a heart to believe and follow You every day. Through Jesus, I pray. Amen.