VOICE OF REASON

THE VOICE OF REASON Everybody needs a Mordecai in his or her life. We need that voice of reason. We need the brother who loves us enough to provoke righteousness in us. We need the uncle that requires nothing from us but Christ and Him crucified. We need the friend who knows God's laws and ways enough to encourage us to refuse the attractions of the world. We need the caretaker who though they are in strange environs themselves they remember enough to know that God rules over all. That you are not in your native land does not change your identity. We need the mom who knows our nakedness and to whom our success or lack of it does not change a thing. Esther's cousin Mordecai was more than a cousin; he became her guardian. He insisted on her staying true to her identity. He watched over her affairs daily. He knew better than to leave her well-being to chance. He nudged her into destiny. He understood the times. He knew when destiny was knocking. Mordecai was so secure in himself; he would not compromise his stand with his God even in the face of death. We all need a Mordecai in our lives. Someone who knows the real you sometimes saw your beginning, saw you become who you are now and is not threatened by your position or status. We need someone who reminds us of our identity in Christ in God, folks who encourage us to defy the forces of evil in and around us. We need people who will spur us on, especially at critical moments in our lives and destiny. We need someone who provokes righteousness in us. Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, (Esther 2:5) Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. (Esther 2:7) Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. (Esther 2:11) When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. (Esther 4:1) He sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14) Beloved, do you have a Mordecai in your life? They can be your spouse, your friend, your child, a teacher, pastor, etc. Whatever your circumstance, we must have people around us to whom we can be accountable. We need people who can confront us when we are on the wrong path. We need people who can rebuke us when the need arises. We need people to whom our success or failure does not change a thing. They are in our lives to provoke righteousness. They are also there to cheer us on. They are there to celebrate the finish line with us, there to hold us up when we falter. Who is your Mordecai? Someone might say, the Holy Spirit. I agree, but I also believe we need humans who are Christ lovers and Kingdom-minded and can judge between good and evil. If you do not have any Mordecai in your life, you need a rethink. You might very well be living in a dangerous alley.