There are two passages assigned for today!

SCRIPTURE: Esther 10
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants. [Esther 10:3]
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honour at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. [Mark 16:19-20]
In Mordecai, we see a picture of Jesus, positioned next to the highest ruler, ruling on behalf of the people.
What a great moment for the Jews, to have their man in the highest position in society, even though they were exiles in a foreign land.
We are in this same place: though we are like strangers in the world, we have our man in the highest position, working on behalf of His followers, confirming their efforts with His power!

Jesus does not take back the kingdom for God – God never lost His power and authority.
Jesus takes back the kingdom for mankind – we are restored to our position as God’s image-bearers, rulers in God’s creation.
In other words, Satan is not in charge of this world; Jesus is, and He is our man.
All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him, and we are seated with Him in this high place.
He is our intercessor, our protector, our assurance that Satan cannot defeat us.
What the Jews experienced in a limited way under Mordecai, we experience fully in Jesus Christ.
He is backing us with His power, working through us as we work for Him.

This should give us confidence when it seems that Satan has the upper hand, when life doesn’t seem to be going well or when evil seems stronger than good.
We follow Jesus boldly, knowing that He has our back; we live out our mission of mercy with confidence, knowing that He will establish the work of our hands – and the devil cannot stop us!
But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honour in heaven. [Hebrews 7:24-26]

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for being our man in heaven, our security and confidence in this world. Make us bold missionaries of mercy and love, knowing that You have our back!