By Rick Elsey
Pastor, West End Baptist Church, Columbia
How many times have we found ourselves taking matters into our own hands before allowing God to meet our needs? At the heart of our decision is a lack of faith or trust in God’s response. I appreciate the testimony of a young church planter who struggled with waiting on God. He said, “God wasn’t moving fast enough, so I took the wheel and gave God some driving lessons.” In the end, he realized he should have trusted God all along.
Our lesson today challenges us to, “Be bold, but leave the results to God.” This principle is seen in Paul’s message to the Romans, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’ ” (Romans 12:19 ESV). Up to this point, Mordecai has not taken any aggressive action against Haman, but rather he prays and trusts in God’s provision. Esther is bold in her decision to speak to the king, trusting in God alone to bring deliverance. Haman’s future is ultimately in God’s hands. [Read more…]