Sin's Gotta Go!

Daily Reading:  Esther 9-10

And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows... (Esther 9:13)

Devotional Thought: At the end of Esther, there is the same temptation that we encountered at the start of the book: getting bogged down with judging the moral and civil codes of that time and place.  Instead of doing that, we need to capture the significance of certain passages for us today.  When Esther requested the execution of the sons of Haman, she was protecting the Jews and the Persians from danger.  Their continued presence threatened the culture with exploitation and sedition.  We could debate merits of capital punishment, but instead, let's focus on what we can learn from Esther's request.  Particularly, what can we learn about sin and temptation?

The sons of Haman represent the deadly and devious nature of sin.  Sin will destroy us if we let it remain.  Long ago I heard a preacher say something I have never forgotten: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."  Sin brings misery to hearts, homes, communities, and nations.  Jesus said that Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy.  So, Jesus came to destroy sin before it can destroy us!

When Jesus forgave sinners, he told them to "go and sin no more."  Paul wrote that sin should no longer be our master.  Just as the ten sons of Haman had to be hanged to remove the danger they posed, so also we must deal decisively with sin and temptation.  "How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:2)  Have you repented and forsaken your sins?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for defeating sin on the cross.  Forgive me when I try to make excuses for my sinful behavior rather than leaving it behind.  May you reign in me, O Lord!  Give me life and holiness and righteousness!

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 118:19-24

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.