2 Corinthians 2 - 6.13.25

Scripture: 2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15 NIV‬‬

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

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Observation:

The word “captives” stood out to me as I read this.  Usually the triumphal procession stands out and I read it as we are victorious in Christ.

Now looking at it, I realize more depth because we follow Christ as captives.  This gives it a bit different meaning. As captives we are subject to His will, obedient to him, and follow His every move. 

We are to spread the knowledge of Him everywhere. We are pleasing to God. 

This is described as an aroma. There is one thing about smells, you can’t hide them easily and they flow throughout the space. 

Application:

I want to be so captivated with Christ that I am his captive.  My desire is to follow Him wholeheartedly and go where He leads me. When He leads me, I can walk triumphantly. His plan is for us to spread the knowledge of Him everywhere. May I remember that as I share Jesus, it will flow like an aroma and I will be pleasing to God.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you so much that you not only sent Jesus to die for our sins, but to lead us as triumphant captives. May I not take that calling lightly. For as Paul says in the next verse, to some it will bring life. May I be so full of your love, it is a pleasing aroma to those around me.  Thank you that you send your people out and provide for what we need.  Amen

- Cindy Howard

Esther 6 - 06.12.25

SCRIPTURE: Esther 6:1-3

“That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.”

OBSERVATION 

The King had sent out a royal decree into all the provinces of his empire, giving the order that all Jews—young and old, including women and children—must be killed, slaughtered, and annihilated on a single day. Although there are various estimates, Warren Wiersbe puts this number at about 15 Million Jews scattered across the Persian Empire.  The date was scheduled for March 7th of the next year. The property of the Jews would also be given to those who killed them. (Esther 3:13)

This massacre of epic proportion was instigated by Haman. The King’s right hand man who had become incensed that Mordecai, a Jew,  would not honor the King’s command that all should bow down before him. Haman was so enraged that punishing Mordecai was not enough. Haman looked for a way to destroy all of the Jews because of his anger. Since King Xerxes was completely sheltered he relied heavily on Haman for advice in directing his affairs. So the King didn’t think twice when Haman said, “This people have laws that are different from all those of other people” (Esther 3:8). How correct Haman was. For these people were God’s Chosen people—following God’s holy Law from His Own Hand (Deuteronomy 4:8).

Now a King’s Royal edict was irreversible.

The Jews are in complete despair, wailing and fasting.

Mordecai has gotten word to Esther and she has agreed to go to the King without an invitation even though it could mean her death. She has asked Mordecai to tell the Jews in Susa to join her in a 3-day fast.

Haman is rejoicing because he believes not only will Mordecai die and be put in his place—but ALL Jews will be taught a lesson. Everyone will Know WHO they must bow down to. 

The Book of Esther shows us how God’s Providential Hand is at work for His People in so many details—you could play a game to SEE how many people and places You can Find God’s Intervention at work.

Also, an incredible reminder how God uses the ONE…many times a person who we may gloss over—but God does Know who the person is and has chosen them for their willingness and ability to serve Him—also for such a time as this. 

APPLICATION 

You are Born For-Such a Time as This.

The King can’t sleep so he orders the Kingdom chronicles to be read to him. Seriously! He could have asked for music, or dancing, or a midnight snack. Or a storyteller. But it was the Kingdom Chronicles of daily events. Now the attendant can pick from any book of 127 provinces and choose any page—but he selects the very book and very page that recorded Mordecai’s service to the King five years before—when he uncovered an assassination plot against the King and reported it to Esther. God’s Hand!

The King asks what has been done to honor Mordecai for saving my life? 

“Nothing has been done”, the servant replies. 

This happens JUST as Haman makes his way in to relay to the King his special arrangement to have Mordecai impaled on a particularly high pole. 

The King tells Haman that Mordecai is to be especially honored in a parade for his service and that Haman is to make the arrangements and see to every detail. God’s Hand!

Now Esther made her way in to see the King and he received her with great Joy.

Esther was given God’s wisdom to know “how” and “when” to reveal her true identity the King. She did not share her request to have her people spared immediately. But invited the King to two separate banquets.

The second banquet included Haman where she revealed her request that Haman wanted her death. What shocking news this was for the king AND Haman. The very pole he erected for Mordecai he, himself was impaled on.

“…who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this ?”” (Esther 4:14 NIV) 

Who is Hathak?

“Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.” (Esther 4:9 NIV)

Hathak was one of the King’s eunuchs assigned to Esther. He was trusted by Esther AND Mordecai as they both reveal the truth about Esther’s Jewish heritage to him. He is carrying extremely important news back and forth. Remember—Esther and Mordecai never actually see each other or talk in person. 15 Million people’s lives are held in the balance over this one man’s integrity and ability to carry information faithfully. 

Every child of God is exactly where God has placed him (her) for some purpose.

We may ask ourselves “For what practical purpose has God placed us where we are now?”

Have you been wishing for another position where you could do something for Jesus?

Do not wish anything of the kind, but serve Him right where you are. 

You, Too, are Born for such a time as This.

Like Mordecai:

If you are sitting at the King’s gate there is something for you to do there.

Like the Attendant -reading the Chronicles (whose name we do not know-God Knows) :

If you are serving as an attendant there is something for you to do there.

Like Hathak:

If you are serving as a messenger, there is something for you to do there.

Like Esther:

and if you are serving on the queen’s throne, there is something for you to do there.

Trust God! Right where you are. In His Kingdom, Christ cares not what Your earthy office is…HE cares only…

Did we fulfill the task we were assigned.

The Parable of the bags of Gold is not about the amounts…it’s about what we do with what we are given. (Matthew 25:14-30)

“For we are His Masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Thank YOU in Your Sovereign Plan You have ordained each one of us to be where we are at this moment in time. Help me Father to Hear Your Voice. 

I am unworthy and so Thankful You brought me out of darkness into Your Salvation.

May I be an attendant, May I be a Gatekeeper, May I be a messenger that brings honor and glory to Your Name—whatever office YOU Call me to. 

May I be Your Willing servant—for such a time as this.

Thank You for Your Word that continues to show Your Love, Your Mercy, Your Grace-and our desperate need of You. We can do nothing apart from You.

Thank You that in your goodness You choose to partner with us. May Your Love be revealed in us Today. In Jesus Name. Amen. 

Tina L Kudelka

Psalm 121 - 6.11.25

Scripture

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1,2)... The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; (Psalm 121:7)

Observation

Our house is nestled on one of the hills of the Santa Clarita valley. We have a good view of mountains in all directions from our home. I work from home when I am not travelling. My work involves a lot of decision making and talking in front of the computer-camera all day. Whenever I am asked a difficult question at work, and I don’t have time to whisper a prayer for wisdom and help, I look outside my window in front of my desk onto the top of the mountains before I answer. I am acting out my prayer based on Psalms 121:1, by lifting my eyes to the mountains. When I do that, I acknowledge that my help comes from my heavenly Father, who made heaven and the earth, and He always comes to my help.

The Psalm continues to highlight how the Lord is always watching over us, never going to sleep (v 3). When we fix our eyes on the mountains from where our help comes, he watches over us so that our feet don’t slip, or in other words we don’t make mistakes! (v 4)

The Lord promises to keep us from all harm, and watch over our life (v 7). The KJV version says “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul”. The Lord protects us from all evil. This includes all the plans of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy. The Lord is our protection. He has promised to keep us from all harm and all evil. 

Application

Let us remember that our help comes from our Father in heaven, who made heaven and earth. He has no dearth of resources to help us. Deuteronomy 33:26 says, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty”. Jeshurun is a poetic name for Israel. We are the Israel (God’s chosen people) of the New Testament. When we call out to Him, He comes to our help riding across the heavens and clouds in His Majesty! When my kids were young, if I heard a cry “Mamma” from my son or daughter, I would drop everything I was doing and run to them and pick them up! When we cry “Father” to our heavenly Father, He immediately comes to help us! 

He will keep us from all harm. No weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The Lord has given us the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy - nothing will harm us (Luke 10:19). Snakes and scorpions are the imagery of the devil and all his plans against us, on which God has given us victory. Let us use the authority the Lord has given us and live in victory.

Prayer

Father, I thank you because you have made me your child. You made heaven and earth and you own the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps 50:10). You are never short of resources to help me. You incline your ear towards me and hear my prayer (Ps 17:6). I have set you always before me, and because you are at my right hand I shall not be moved. (Ps 16:8). Thank you for watching over me all the time, even when I am sleeping (Ps 121:3). Thank you for protecting me from all harm. Thank you because you have destroyed the work of the devil (1 John 3:8). Thank you for giving your angels charge over me (Psalms 91:11). Thank you because I can rest in you (Ps 37:7). Everyday of my life was written in your book before I was born, and nothing happens to me without your knowledge  (Ps 139:16) . And I know that you will make all things work together for good for me, including what the enemy intends for evil (Rom 8:28). I thank you and I praise you because I am safe and secure in you. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen. 

- Asha Chacko George