Dear Family at Christ Community,

     Before we feast upon the bread and cup of our Lord this Sunday, we will encounter Haman’s pride in Esther 5:9-14. After Mordecai rattles his confidence, Haman jumps at an outrageous solution to deal with Mordecai and reinflate his pride. Ian Duguid points out in Esther & Ruth that Haman’s plan was misguided from the start. The execution he staged for Mordecai “would have drawn all eyes to him (and away from Haman) in a way that a smaller gallows would not have done.” In laughable extremes, he exudes the pride that comes before the fall (Prov 16:18).

     Our encounter with the obvious excesses of Haman’s pride will expose the cost of our own pride. As with Haman, our proud actions often unleash unintended and self-destructive consequences. Duguid provides an apt description of what happens when we feed our pride instead of mortifying it: “We end up emptier than ever, in even greater bondage than before, and it is only a matter of time before something else reignites our negative emotions.”

     Praise God that He sent Jesus to ransom us from this vicious cycle of pride! God sets us free from bondage to ourselves and from the constant need to feed our pride whatever it demands. Instead, He sets us free for joyful humility—life as a child of God with a seat at His Table—where we can feast upon Christ by faith and be filled with joy that lasts.

     Take time this week to ask the Holy Spirit to highlight the ways you feed your pride. Ask Him to guide you in repentance as you prepare for the Table. This can be an uncomfortable prayer, so take time to praise the Son for paying the cost to ransom you from your pride by humbly offering His whole self on the cross in your place. Finally, praise the Father for inviting you to this Table where He delights in nourishing your growth in joyful humility.

Yours in Christ,
Matt