Convicted

Walk by Faith Devotional Series by Pam Keegan

Day 2

Scripture reading: Esther 3:1-4

Esther 3:2 says, “But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.” Did Mordecai have a bad attitude?  Was he deliberately being disrespectful to his authority? After all, the king had commanded all of his servants at the king’s gate to bow down and pay homage to Haman.

Mordecai was a Jew. The Torah clearly states, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exod. 20:3) Similar to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, bowing down to anyone or anything was idolatry. It went against the convictions of Mordecai’s faith. When asked why he wouldn’t bow and pay homage, he had an answer: “for he had told them that he was a Jew.” (Esther 3:4) Mordecai had convicted devotion to God.  

What about you? It is often hard to take a stand and speak up, even when we know something is wrong. How often do we remain silent? How often do we say to ourselves, Why risk retribution? Why risk losing our position or standing within the church or community? 

God calls us to stand with conviction of unwavering devotion to Him. When we do, God will give us the courage to stand by those convictions and the consequences that may follow. How will you walk by faith into your convicted devotion to God and His word this week?

“The time is always right to do the right thing.” -Martin Luther King Jr.