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Today’s Manna!
Scripture Passage: Esther 5:9-13
Esther 5:9-13 (NIV) describes Haman’s reaction after attending Queen Esther’s banquet.
“Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. ‘And that’s not all,’ Haman added. ‘I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.’”
This passage illustrates the destructive nature of pride and how it can blind a person to the blessings in their life. Despite his wealth, status, and the honor bestowed upon him, Haman’s joy was completely overshadowed by his anger and resentment towards Mordecai. His pride and obsession with Mordecai’s perceived disrespect consumed him, preventing him from appreciating all that he had.
A similar example can be found in the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee was proud of his religious accomplishments, boasting to God about his fasting and tithing, while looking down on the tax collector. However, it was the humble tax collector who went home justified before God, highlighting how pride can distort our self-perception and distance us from God’s grace.
In our lives, pride can easily lead us to focus on the negatives, even when we are surrounded by blessings. By recognizing and curbing pride, we can cultivate gratitude and humility, which open our hearts to God’s work in our lives.
Prayer: Lord, help us to see beyond our pride and recognize the blessings You have given us. Teach us to be humble, to find joy in Your grace, and to resist the temptation to let pride blind us to Your goodness. Amen.
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