My latest guest on the Praise & Worship Podcast is Kristen Brewer, writer and producer for Sight & Sound’s production of Queen Esther! She is also heading up SEEN Collective, using original music to tell the stories of women in the Bible and the God who saw them. Kristen joined me to talk about the heart behind SEEN Collective, and shared about the characters and songs they’ve inspired. I hope you’re encouraged (like I am) by these insights! Be sure to listen to the end for information on how you can interact or get involved.
Plus, Kristen played the tambourine for a live performance of Tamar’s song “Roadside”, and I had a few questions about that experience!
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Mordecai.
He was a cousin to Queen Esther during a time when the Jews were living under the reign of the Persian Empire. There were a number of noble qualities about Mordecai.
He had taken Esther as his own daughter before she became queen. Esther did not have a father or mother. As her cousin, Mordecai became a father-like figure to her. He was a man of compassion.
He also broke up an assassination attempt against the king. He was a man of courage.
It also appears that Mordecai was loyal to God. When the king ordered the royal officials to kneel down and honor a man named Haman, Mordecai refused to comply. He was a man of conviction.
The faithfulness of Mordecai to live with compassion, courage, and conviction inspires us to do what is right in the eyes of God and live a life of Integrity.
A quote from Mordecai to Queen Esther, “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
This is perhaps the most often quoted passage in the book of Esther. Even though this book of the Bible does not mention God by name, His hand is clearly working in the circumstances that are unfolding in this book. An evil plot by Haman to wipe out the Jews is thwarted by Queen Esther. She used her influence to spare the Jews from annihilation. Her relative Mordecai offered her the encouragement she needed to take a personal risk for the sake of saving her people.
Whatever platform God has given us, that is an opportunity to stand for what is right. It may involve personal risk. We might pay the price of persecution for standing against evil. At the same time, we will know the joy of developing a deeper relationship with God as we follow Jesus with a loyal heart.
There are general purposes that God has for His followers: Knowing Him better, Glorifying Jesus, Building the church by the use of our spiritual gifts, and being a witness for Jesus to a world who needs His grace. For such a time as this, God is raising up His people to shine the light of grace and truth on a world darkened by division and deception.
Using our position as a platform to do God’s will is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.
