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Mini-Worship
August 27-September 1, 2024
Take a few deep breaths and center yourself and quiet down
Entering the presence of God
From Psalm 95:1-3; 96: 1-3, 8a, 9a)
(M) Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
(W) Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
(All) 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Adoration:
God of our lives, praise you that you watch over and understand well our daily existence. You came to pour out your water of life to us when we felt wandering in the desert of loneliness, disconnection and senselessness. Your presence brought in the fullness of joy. We sensed a wholeness in your abundant life. Thanks, God for your love and peace. More than that, thank you that you are a God who watches over us and walks into our lives. We adore you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture Reading
Esther 2:5-18 (NIV)
5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. 7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. 8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. 12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name. 15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
Thoughts to share and to ponder
Grew up in Persian and Jewish cultures, the beautiful orphan girl Esther was taken to palace for a beauty contest. She received a super class beauty treatment program. Look at that list: seven attendants to wait on her; best room for stay; twelve months of beauty treatments with the best cosmetics; and the privilege to get whatever she liked.
But many beautiful young ladies were there. What was special about Esther's beauty? How could she stand out among all? From scripture passage we just read, we can discover another kind of beauty that she displayed-
- She was not anxious in being placed in a strange place.
- She had no greed for fancy things more than what she was given.
-She got along well with the people around her.
-She inspired people to do good.
It appeared that Esther had a kind of beauty more than what royal beauty program could cultivate. She displayed a kind of composure about herself and her life situation. She had a peace that God would hold her future. She had a trust toward the people around her. She had gentleness to receive what others instructed her. She had the wisdom about what to get, what not to get. She had a kind heart to care for others. In one year's period, she, like light and salt, won the favor from officers, peers, and the king. Her beauty was not made by the royal beauty shop, but by the fear of God which she received from her upbringing years under her cousin.
Paul had encouraged the believers at Ephesus with such word:
"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:25a-27, NIV)
God has a beauty vision for us. God intends to use His own word to beautify His own people, the church. The fragrance of believers emitted from knowing Jesus will have a pleasing effect to the people around them. One day, believers will stand before their Great King, being selected by Him and receiving praises from him. Are you ready? Are you working out?
Prayer
Suggestions:
Have you ever thought that God cares if you are beautiful or handsome? He has a way to make us to reach this goal. Have you allowed yourself to be treated and transformed by His own word and His own church?
Dear God, Through Jesus Christ, you have called us into your royal beauty circle, the church. May we be renewed and transformed day by day until the day we see you face to face. Teach us and draw us to love your word. Amen.
Benediction
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Prayer Request
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