After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. ² All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

³ Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” ⁴ Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. ⁶ Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

Dear God, why doesn’t this story mention you? Why doesn’t it say, “Haman would only bow to God, and, therefore, he would kneel to Haman and pay him honor”? I find it fascinating that, although you were probably his motivation, this book doesn’t record that at all.

Okay, here’s the big question: Can the same be said of me? When people see me and my actions, do they know my motivation? When I turn down an opportunity to advance my career do they know it is because I don’t want to go against your call? When I try to show a difficult person compassion do they know it is because I have asked you to give me your eyes for them? When I try to go out of my way to love a donor, do they know that it is so that you will be able to bless that person through their sacrifice?

Father, if a book were to be written about me, I want it to be impossible that it could be written without mentioning you. I want anyone who comes into contact with me, including the people with whom I am in conflict, to be able to see you in me. Of course, that means that you have to be my motivation. You have to be woven throughout my life. I need to reject sin and embrace you. So I do that today. I pledge this day to loving you and seeking you as I make decisions that will bring others a sense of you.