November 15, 2012 Celebrate!

Joy of Deliverance Esther 8:16-17 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. 17 In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. DELIVERANCE has come to the Jews in King Xerxes’ kingdom. God has used Esther and Mordecai to rescue his people from the evil plot of Haman to destroy them. The Jews can fight back to defend themselves, and they do so. The Jews living in exile defeat the enemy around them, and they joyfully celebrate God delivering them from death. In many ways, the book of Esther can be compared with the plight of mankind. Humans live in a foreign nation, the world. They are threatened with death from an evil person, Satan. They need a Savior, Jesus. Jesus gives them the authority to fight back in his power, and Satan is destroyed. In response, Jesus’ kingdom citizens rejoice in their deliverance from evil. Can you imagine how the Jews felt as they experienced the release from certain death at Haman’s hand? Death’s unbearable burden was gone, and the joy of life surrounded them. Do you think they made new commitments to their loved ones to live well? Do you think they focused on celebrating the opportunities now available to them in their freedom from the evil around them? Do you think they rejoiced in their newly secured lives? This is what your faith in Christ should feel like. You have been released from death’s burden to live the full life God has created for you. You are free from death’s fearsome bondage. You can live confidently that the Lord of life has you in his care without end. It’s True! You can celebrate your salvation.