{"id":15000,"date":"2013-10-04T00:01:43","date_gmt":"2013-10-04T05:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=15000"},"modified":"2013-10-03T21:22:22","modified_gmt":"2013-10-04T02:22:22","slug":"esther-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/10\/04\/esther-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Esther – Chapter 5:10-14"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jealousy: a sentiment which is born in love and which is produced by the fear that the loved person prefers someone else. Wouldn\u2019t you say Haman was jealous of Mordecai? He was so afraid that the king would prefer Mordecai over him that he couldn\u2019t even enjoy the fact that Esther had indeed invited him to the banquet that she had prepared for the king. He admits to all that it means nothing as long as Mordecai is seated at the palace gate. \u00a0Isn\u2019t that just like us? We let what we don\u2019t have\u00a0 overshadow what we do have.<\/em> The desire to have it all might just cost us the riches that we already have. \u00a0And for Haman, it cost him his life.<\/p>\n

Anger had manifested itself into a dangerous mission to kill. Hatred and bitterness are like weeds with long roots that grow in the heart and corrupt all of life. He couldn\u2019t even enjoy being the king\u2019s right hand man because he was so full of anger that had gone unchecked for so long that it had manifested itself into killer instinct.\u00a0 Hebrews 12:15<\/strong> warns us to watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble us corrupting many.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let hatred and its resulting bitterness build up in your heart. It will backfire against you. \u00a0If the mention of someone\u2019s name provokes you to anger, confess it,\u00a0ask forgiveness, and let it go. Don\u2019t allow it to live in your mind rent-free. It will cost you a lot more than you think.<\/p>\n

As Christians, children of God, we cannot ignore anger and bitterness. We don\u2019t need to hide it from our sisters in Christ or just make superficial changes to our behavior or personality. If it isn\u2019t completely eradicated, it will grow back, making everything worse. Your Father knows what\u2019s best for you.<\/strong> <\/em>He doesn\u2019t want us looking at others and wanting what they have. He knows you better than you know yourself and He loves you more than you can imagine. And He wants us to love each other the way He loves us. In \u00a01 John 1:11, we read\u00a0\u201cBut anyone who hates another brother or sister is still walking and living in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded<\/span> by darkness.<\/p>\n

\"Wk5_Spring_Esther\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the end, this bitterness and resentment caused Haman the ultimate price.\u00a0 His family and friends even suggested for Haman to set up a sharpened pole so tall that all would surely see Mordecai\u2019s death.\u00a0 But God had other plans, as He does for us too.\u00a0 He is the ultimate judge.\u00a0\u00a0 Justice was done.\u00a0 Haman ultimately paid the price. \u00a0Our consequences may not be death<\/span>, but I can promise you we won\u2019t have the joyful life that He promised us if we are consumed with the roots of anger. \u00a0Jesus came to set us free.\u00a0 Free from all chains that bind.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Are you struggling today with any of these? Anger, jealousy, or bitterness? \u00a0If so, bring it into the light and tear down the veil of all of these; and then ask Him to take it away so you can enjoy this life He chose especially for YOU<\/strong>!<\/p>\n