Love Them for the Lord

Esther 2:1-2, 5-7

Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father

and mother died. (Est. 2:7)

 

 

IT WAS AN EXCITING DAY for five-year-old

Alex. After Ron and Leta had cared for

him as a foster child for two years, the

judge cleared the way for them to adopt

him. After the official paperwork was

finished, completing the adoption, Alex

visited his new mother's office with her a

few blocks away and proudly displayed the

certificate that declared he was now a full-fledged

member of the family.

 

One of the most tangible ways believers

can serve God is by helping children whose

natural parents have died or who are

unable or unwilling to care for them. This

can range from hosting a child for a day or

two, giving a single parent a brief but

much-needed rest, to long-term care or

even adoption of a boy or girl whose

parents have lost their rights for whatever

reason.

 

God repeatedly tells us in the Bible to care

for those whose family status has been

broken, specifically orphans and widows.

Mordecai took God's priority seriously and

placed his cousin Esther in his home as his

own daughter. In doing so, he became part

of God's plan to use Esther to rescue the

Jewish nation from destruction. Each time

a Christian family adopts a child, they have

the privilege and responsibility to shape

that child for a life of godly service, just as

Mordecai led Esther.

 

Paul Zinter

 

This week, think of ways you can help children

who don't have fathers or mothers.