EASTER DEVOTIONAL (17 OF 25)
Scripture: Titus 1:15-16, Esther 3:3-4
This content is part of a series.
NOTE: This sermon is part 33 and 34 of a 50 part devotional series. Two sermons outlines are included in this download.
PREVIEWS:
Thirty-Third Day (33 of 50)
Series: Easter Devotional
Christopher Harbin
Titus 1:15-16
‘‘Everything is pure for someone whose heart is pure. But nothing is pure for an unbeliever with a dirty mind. That person’s mind and conscience are destroyed. Such people claim to know God, but their actions prove that they really don’t. They are disgusting. They won’t obey God, and they are too worthless to do anything good.’’ Titus 1:15-16
Some would be tempted to quote Paul as a voice to eliminate concerns of morality and parameters for acceptable action. Paul was not speaking of morality, however. He was addressing issues of Jewish tradition, legalism, and dietary regulations on food. These were concerns over ritual purity. Codes of ritual purity were to assure that God would accept an offering being presented. They were questions of sacrifice and participation in temple worship. They included things like the ritual hand-rinsing that Jesus had been accused of allowing his disciples to ignore before eating. They were questions of certain foods and people considered to be unclean, yet whose state of purity was brushed aside in Peter’s vision upon the visit of Cornelius.
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Thirty-Fourth Day (34 of 50)
Series: Easter Devotional
Christopher Harbin
Esther 3:3-4
‘‘When the other officials asked Mordecai why he disobeyed the king’s command, he said, ‘Because I am a Jew.’ They spoke to him for several days about kneeling down, but he still refused to obey. Finally, they reported this to Haman, to find out if he would let Mordecai get away with it.’’ Esther 3:3-4
Mordecai had good reason not to bow before Haman. It was a question of honoring Yahweh, and Yahweh alone. He also had good reason to bow to Haman. The king had issued the command that all should bow before Haman. To refuse to bow to Haman was to disobey the king. Mordecai’s position was that he should bow to none but Yahweh. This stance left him in a precarious situation. He had the choice to follow his conscience before God or to follow the demands of the power structures around him.
PREVIEWS:
Thirty-Third Day (33 of 50)
Series: Easter Devotional
Christopher Harbin
Titus 1:15-16
‘‘Everything is pure for someone whose heart is pure. But nothing is pure for an unbeliever with a dirty mind. That person’s mind and conscience are destroyed. Such people claim to know God, but their actions prove that they really don’t. They are disgusting. They won’t obey God, and they are too worthless to do anything good.’’ Titus 1:15-16
Some would be tempted to quote Paul as a voice to eliminate concerns of morality and parameters for acceptable action. Paul was not speaking of morality, however. He was addressing issues of Jewish tradition, legalism, and dietary regulations on food. These were concerns over ritual purity. Codes of ritual purity were to assure that God would accept an offering being presented. They were questions of sacrifice and participation in temple worship. They included things like the ritual hand-rinsing that Jesus had been accused of allowing his disciples to ignore before eating. They were questions of certain foods and people considered to be unclean, yet whose state of purity was brushed aside in Peter’s vision upon the visit of Cornelius.
--------------------
Thirty-Fourth Day (34 of 50)
Series: Easter Devotional
Christopher Harbin
Esther 3:3-4
‘‘When the other officials asked Mordecai why he disobeyed the king’s command, he said, ‘Because I am a Jew.’ They spoke to him for several days about kneeling down, but he still refused to obey. Finally, they reported this to Haman, to find out if he would let Mordecai get away with it.’’ Esther 3:3-4
Mordecai had good reason not to bow before Haman. It was a question of honoring Yahweh, and Yahweh alone. He also had good reason to bow to Haman. The king had issued the command that all should bow before Haman. To refuse to bow to Haman was to disobey the king. Mordecai’s position was that he should bow to none but Yahweh. This stance left him in a precarious situation. He had the choice to follow his conscience before God or to follow the demands of the power structures around him.
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