“Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his cousin, for she had neither father nor mother; the girl was fair and beautiful, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter. … Esther did not reveal her people or kindred, for Mordecai had charge her not to tell. Every day Mordecai would walk around in front of the court of the harem, to learn how Esther was and how she fared.” Esther 2:7,10

Mordecai loved his much younger cousin as a father loves his child. It is obvious by Esther’s obedience that she loves him in and respects him. She obeys Mordecai’s instructions from a position of love and respect gained by his loving care. We can say, Mordecai loved Esther, “as Christ loves the church.” The question for me/us is, do I/we live in obedience? Having received the love of Christ, do I/we follow Christ and carry out His instruction in willful obedience? Is my/our answer yes, sometimes or no? Lord forgive me for the times when the answer is sometimes or no…….. May I always be obedient, especially when I don’t why, when I can’t “see” into the future, don’t know the outcome. Help me to believe and to live out my life in faith. To live my life as your son, adopted into the family of faith.