INTRODUCTION

Loyalty may seem to go unobserved but eventually yields unexpected and momentous dividends. The story of Esther’s uncle uniquely exemplifies this point. Mordecai sat in the king’s gate in Shushan. One day, while he sat in the gate, he overheard two men plotting to kill the king. When Mordecai heard the news, he immediately repeated these words to Queen Esther, thus foiling the plot. The two men were tried, found guilty, and ultimately executed. At first, Mordecai’s loyalty seemed to remain unnoticed, but one night the king was troubled and could not sleep. His servants, by divine providence, read the record of Mordecai’s loyalty to him (Esther 6:1-3 [1] On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. [2] And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. [3] And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
See All...). Soon thereafter, Mordecai’s loyalty was rewarded (Esther 6:4-11 [4] And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. [5] And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. [6] So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? [7] And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, [8] Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: [9] And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. [10] Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. [11] Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
See All...). His loyalty most likely saved his life and spared the lives of countless Jews (see Esther chapter 7).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children):  Jonathan’s loyalty did not go unnoticed by David. Following Jonathan’s death in battle, David rewarded Jonathan by taking care of his son Mephibosheth (read 2 Samuel chapter 9). God also noticed Jonathan’s loyalty as He does ours (2 Chronicles 15:7Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
  See All...; Ephesians 6:8Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
  See All...; Hebrews 6:10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Have you been loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ? Does it seem as though sometimes your loyalty goes unnoticed? When will your loyalty yield rewards?
• In what ways did Mordecai’s loyalty eventually help others? How could your loyalty to the Lord be a blessing to others? Who could be hurt if you ceased to be loyal?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to help you to be loyal when it seems nobody notices.
• Ask God to remind you that your labour for Him is not in vain.

HYMN

When We See Christ

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