Year of Realization - Day 7: Take heed to your Guardian.

"Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it.

Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬, ‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If you are a person who has your own children or who has worked with children much you know that children often think they know better than their parent or teacher. Sadly, that tendency doesn’t go away when we are no longer a child. We just no longer see it as being what it is: presumption.

Often—in terms of doing a skill or performing a task—there are processes that seem as though they would be the best way, or even the quickest way, to do it. But those who have done these tasks before, have probably already tried the things that the novice is thinking of doing, and knows that it will not work, or is not expedient.

Therefore, we often see a clash between generations in terms of the way things should be done. As stated, the seasoned person has already tried the so-called “new” ideas of the novice, finding them to not be expedient. The other side of that tension is that the novice just “knows” that this will work for them. Perhaps they even suppose that their “naysaying” instructor, parent, and so on, didn’t know what they know.

What we have been describing here is something you will see in any arena where one that is more experienced is instructing those less experienced or one who is in a position of authority is directing those of lesser authority. There is always the tension between those who actually do know and those who “think” they know.

Please don’t misunderstand me, if it weren’t for new ways of doing things, most of our inventions never would have been made. So, there is a place for next level thinking where an idea and the means to implement it come where that knowledge did not formerly exist. So, this is definitely not what we are talking about here.

Nor am I talking about people sticking to tradition, or a way of doing something, just because it’s the way they did it.

What we are considering here is the tendency to want to do something according to the way we see it ought to be done even when we are under an authority who knows better.

For us, our ultimate authority is our Lord. We are instructed by way of His word and by the direction of His Holy Spirit speaking within us. As well, there are those appointed within the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who the Lord also uses to dispense godly instruction.

Even among those who operate in wonderful spiritual gifts, the time may come that the Lord will give them instruction regarding something in their way of doing or being that is in error. This is not a process we should resent; but rather, should embrace, knowing that the purpose of godly discipline, godly instruction, and godly discipleship, is the perfecting of the child of God into the stature of Jesus Christ. Of course, the source for that transformation is the Holy Spirit in the individual; but again, the Lord often uses those who are more mature in the faith to instruct those who are not as far along in their spiritual development.

In our opening passage we see two verses within the same chapter making the point that Esther did not reveal the fact that she was a Jew, because Mordecai instructed her not to do so. She could’ve bucked up against him, perhaps saying that she didn’t want to “live a lie.” But, there was no “lie” here and the more mature Mordecai knew that. The fact is, Esther trusted her guardian; she trusted the wisdom of Mordecai.

Now, in retrospect, knowing the end of the story, we can see that her identity had to be obscured until Haman showed his hand, so that the plot against the Jews could be cut off completely.

Not everything we do has to make sense to our carnal mind or our personal analysis. If the Lord has spoken to us, whether through His Holy Spirit, through the instruction of His word, or through godly counsel, then it is our place to do it. Again, we now have the Holy Spirit within us and the Lord will never instruct us to do something about which the Holy Spirit in us gives no confirmation or peace.

Make no mistake, the working of the Lord’s plan in our lives is contingent upon our ability to take godly instruction without bucking up against it out of pride, arrogance, or any other thing that would keep us from heeding the instruction of our Guardian.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming. Get ready for Him.

#yearofrealization