Sweeter Than Honey: Humility is a Beautiful Thing

What if we spent a few quiet moments with God each morning? What if we were intentional about making time for it? What if we committed to doing that all year long and by the year’s end we found that we had read the entire Bible!?

How many times, on January 1, have you committed to reading the Bible from cover to cover in a year? I have made that commitment too many times to count, and I have failed too many times to admit.

​A few years ago though, I used a one-year, chronological order of book authorship, Bible Reading Itinerary.

Did you know that Genesis was not the first book of the Bible written? While plans like this vary somewhat, because it is simply impossible to put an exact date on some books of the Bible, the plan I used begins with the book of Job.

Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey ​that leads the reader
​through God's Word ​in chronological order of book authorship.

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Let me introduce you to Sweeter Than Honey, friend. It is patterned after that Bible Reading Itinerary.

On Tuesdays, now through the end of the year, I would love it if you and I could take a trip through Sweeter Than Honey together! I'd also like to encourage you to Join us over at the private, Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group and share your thoughts. You'll find like-minded, Christian friends there. Let’s do this! Come join us as we move through the book and God's Word together.

We're waiting for you!

​Esther 1-3: Humility is a Beautiful Thing

I love the book of Esther. Next to Proverbs, it’s probably my favorite book in the Old Testament. Today, I want us to look at what the Bible tells us about Esther from chapters 1-3.

1. Esther was an orphan raised by Mordecai who was from the tribe of Benjamin.
2. Her father, Abihail, and mother (we’re not told her name) were both dead.
3. The man who raised her had been carried away from Jerusalem during the Babylonian invasion.
4. Her given name was Hadassah.
5. She was the daughter of Mordecai’s uncle. Esther and Mordecai were cousins.
6. Esther was very beautiful and lovely to look at.
7. Mordecai raised Esther as if she were his own daughter.
8. She was one of many young women that were gathered to possibly be the next queen.
9. She pleased Hegai, in whose custody she was placed for a year in the palace.
10. She was given FREE makeup! “And he [Hegai] quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem” (Esther 1:9).
11. She quickly advanced to the head of the harem.
12. Esther was a Jew, but she kept her people and kindred a secret just as Mordechai told her to.
13. Mordecai must have loved Esther very much. We know that he was concerned for her well-being because the Bible tells us that every day he walked in front of the court of the harem to see how she was and what was happening to her.
14. After 12 months of beautifying—six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments—when it was her turn to go in to see King Ahasuerus, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. She asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. 
15. She won favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
16. When she was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than any of the others, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen.
17. Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity. Apparently, she made the king very happy!

What stood out to me the most in this passage was Esther’s humility even though she was very beautiful. She took the advice of both Mordecai and Hegai. Humility is a beautiful thing!

As a young person, I was puzzled at the fact that Esther was raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Typically, we think of cousins being about the same age. But God gave me a beautiful example, in my own family, as to how this could be. My father is the youngest of twelve. His oldest brother is twenty years older than him. My Uncle Richard's children (my cousins) are old enough to be my parents. That doesn't happen often in our culture today, but it was most likely common in Esther's day.

What impresses you most about Queen Esther's life?

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, I find inspiration and insight that keeps my day on track. Join me on this journey. Let’s settle in with His Word—it’s His Love Letter to us. Did you know that? Let’s read it like a Love Letter, expecting to glean something for our walk with Him every day. Let’s look for peace in the chaos and strength for our weaknesses. Even on our busiest days we can carve out a few minutes to refocus on the important. Can’t we? We may have to get up a little earlier, when the house is still and quiet, or stay up a few minutes after the others are tucked in for the night, but we can do this! I know we can!

Let's be intentional about focusing on God’s Word and the truths found there. Let's let it inspire us to live out our faith each day in a way that causes those we come in contact with to want what we have found. God sees you. He knows you by name, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He cares about every detail of your daily existence. He wrote you a Love Letter. Let’s dive in! ​

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