After all this took place, King Ahaerus honored Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He promoted him in rank and gave him a higher position than all the other officials. The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage. Esther 3:1-2 HCSB
Listverse.com reports: A 62-year-old homeless woman from Calgary, Canada found a purse stuffed with over $10,000 in cash, and even though she was living at the local YWCA shelter at the time, she chose to turn it in. “It never crossed my mind to keep the money,” she said. “It’s not mine to keep.” There are many stories of people who have chosen to do what it right even though it cost them in some way.
Mordecai decided to do what was right, even if it cost him his life. He evaluated the risk and had the courage to take a stand against the pressure to bow down and worship Haman. Mordecai was a Jew and He knew it was wrong to bow down and worship anyone or anything other than the one true God. It would have been easy to rationalize that he could bow down but not really worship Haman, but he decided to go against the crowd and what was popular to follow God. Mordecai had faith in God and was determined he would not bow down and worship Haman.
Challenge: Choose to do what is right. Often doing what is right is not the most popular thing to do. You will be in the minority. Pray for strength and courage as you stand up to the pressure of the world to follow God’s plan and will for your life.