Tonight at sundown, the Jewish Feast of Purim begins. The story behind the Feast is well know though not many people will recognize the name Purim. It is the Hebrew word for "lots" as in, casting lots. The story of Purim is the story of a young peasant girl of great beauty who was taken from her home and placed in the palace where she eventually became queen of a great kingdom. It is the story of a heroine who, with grace and courage, saves millions of lives. It is the story of Esther.

Many Christians are at least partially familiar with Esther's story: the young woman who, because of her beauty, found favor with a cruel king and was made his queen. Unknown to the king, the people of his new queen were to be annihilated by the king's wicked right-hand man; but with stunning courage, the queen confronts both the king and his head honcho and saves the lives of millions of people. 

The Feast of Purim is about rejoicing in the providential  protection and deliverance of the nation of Israel, and by extension, all the children of the promise. Because it's not a major feast like Passover or Yom Kippur, Purim is often over looked in the Messianic explanations of the Jewish feasts. But there are beautiful parallels in the story of Purim and Yeshua.

The first one that comes to mind is a section of my most favorite verses of the entire Bible. Revelation 19:11- 16.

 Now I saw the heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of the Almighty God. And He has on His robe and His thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This is the picture of the ultimate Hero, Jesus. Just as the Jews have always had enemies that try to annihilate them, so we as Christians have an enemy that constantly seeks to destroy us. In the Purim story, the enemy is Haman, the king's head honcho. In your life and in mine, it's the Father of Lies. And like Esther in the Purim story, this warrior Jesus stood ready in our defense and committed the ultimate act of deliverance for the sake of His people at the cost of His own life. 

Someday, when the whole of creation is gathered to the marriage supper of the Lamb, we will celebrate Ha'Gadol Purim, the Great Purim. We will celebrate the deliverance of the Bride by her Hero and Bridegroom, Jesus the Warrior Lamb. 

A Knight in a Stetson

Sometimes I get this (completely wrong but very real) feeling that it's just me. That nothing will get done in my life unless I do it. That if I don't take care of me, nobody will. 

I know Jesus is always there, just like the Bible says. I know He loves me enough to die for me. I know that there is nowhere I can go that He can't see me. 

I know all that. In my head. But sometimes my heart feels alone. Like there's no one out there who really cares for my heart. 

But that's a lie straight from the enemy. And to prove that to me, Jesus sent me a Knight in Shining Armor. Let me tell you the story. 

It was Friday night and I was flying home for the weekend. I was excited about going home but it was late and I was exhausted from a long week and a major exam I had taken that morning. I had almost missed my departing flight and was still feeling like I was running behind. 

When I got to the layover airport, I ran around the entire thing at least twice because the gate kept changing. I'm a pretty seasoned flyer but I was rather frazzled by the time I reached the appropriate gate. I was icky and hot and hungry. So I went and found a Smoothie King and picked up a bottle of Naked. Everyone else must have had the same idea as I did because I swear half the airport was in line ahead of me. "That's fine," I thought. "I'll just stand here until I'm 90, breaking my shoulder with this backpack." 

Finally it was my turn to checkout. I put my little bottle on the counter and hand the girl my card. She runs it. And then runs it again. And then again. That sinking feeling hit my stomach. I had been having issues with my card- it would randomly work and then randomly not work, Apparently, this was a randomly not working day. 

"Do you have another card?" she asks. I shake my head. 

"Could you try it one more time, please?" I ask. Please, please work. She ran it again and shook her head. Be polite, it's not her fault. You didn't really need a drink anyways. I thanked her, apologized and put away my (worthless) card. The woman behind me in line sweetly offered to pay for my drink but I said no. "Thank you, ma'am but it's fine." And I walked away. 

I found an empty place on the hallway floor and sat where I could see my gate. I tried to calm down and not think about how thirsty I was. And tried to ignore the panic I felt rising up inside me. I was pretty much stuck in this place with no access to money. 

I had my head leaned back against the wall, staring at the carpet, when a pair of very polished cowboy boots stopped in front of me. "Excuse me, young lady." 

My head snapped up. "Yes, sir?" A huge white Stetson and a very well tailored suit screamed "rich Dallas businessman." What in the world? 

"Were you trying to buy something earlier?" WHAT?? Getting a little creeped out here. 

"Uhhh... yes sir?"  He reached into his briefcase and pulled out my abandoned blueberry Naked and a Cliff bar and handed them to me. What should I say? Should I take them? Never take things from strangers!  I opened my mouth to refuse and "Oh my gosh. Thank you, sir!" came out. 

"You're very welcome, ma'am." He picked up his briefcase and walked down the hall. And disappeared. 

I sat there holding the juice bottle, wondering if it was ok to drink it. After all it was from a stranger. 

Then that voice I have come to know as Jesus' said, "Hey, I love you." Thanks, Jesus. I know you do. 

"No. Tori, I love you." 

And then I understood. He loves me. He saw me, a tired, sweaty, hungry mess on the airport floor. And He loved me. So He sent me a Knight in a white Stetson to show me how much He loved me. In a real, tangible way. I love when He makes a verse pop out that tells me how much He loves me. But its so spectacular when He shows it. 

And I promptly burst into tears. Right there in the middle of the airport.  

Y'all, Jesus loves. 

That's so simple and something we might say on a daily basis. But stop for a minute and really  think about what that means. 

I have no idea if that man have any idea that He was being the hands and feet of Jesus to me. But he was. 

Let's be Knights, people. Let's follow the promptings of the King of Love and be Knights to those around us. Because I want to be a part of making others feel the love of Jesus the way I did that night in the airport.  

Go and Do Likewise

"When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

That question from Luke 18 pierced my soul to the core. What a question to ask the Church! "Is there faith on the earth?" Of course there is! There is the Church, right?

But does it follow that because the Church exists there is faith in it?

The heartbreaking answer is no.

In Luke 17, the disciples say to Jesus, "Increase our faith." So Jesus tells them a parable of a servant and a master.

"Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing the field or tending the sheep. Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, 'Sit down and eat'? Wouldn't you be more likely to say, 'Prepare dinner; change your clothes and wait table for me until I've finished my coffee; then go to the kitchen and have your supper'? Does the servant get special thanks for doing what's expected of him? It's the same with you. When you've done everything expected of you, be matter-of-fact and say, 'The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.'"

I thought for a long time about that parable and how it possibly applied to the increase of faith. How could I take this teaching of Jesus and apply it with effectiveness to my life? I think the key of this parable is the expectation of the master.

The Master expects that the servant will be busy doing the work the Master instructed him to do, whether it is plowing the field, tending sheep, or waiting on the Master during dinner. The Master expects the servant to fulfill his wishes without being told over and over again.

So what does that mean for me? Go back to the Gospels and read what Jesus expects us to do.        "Forgive your brother seven times seventy."

"Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength."

"Ask in faith and it shall be done for you."

"Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you."

"Believe in God, believe also in Me."

"Come to Me to find your rest."

"Be salt. Be light. And don't hide it."

On and on the list could run. There are so many verses that are treated like a "Get Well Soon" card. "Read these when you're having a hard day. Read these when you're tired. Read these when you're angry..." yadi yada.... But read them closely. 

{They are instructions.}

What does ask God of you? What does Jesus expect of you? To forgive. To love Him above all else. To petition Him in faith. To bless those who hurt you... you can finish the list.

And that is what Jesus told His disciples to do to increase their faith.

 Do what He has already instructed. 

There is some interesting wording in the last sentence of that parable. It says (in the NLT), "We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty."  The word "unworthy" is also translated "unprofitable." The Greek word used is achreios and it's a play on words, a little Greek hyperbole. It gives the sense of self-deprecating piety, as if the servant is only worthy to call himself "worthy" if he goes beyond what is expected of him in his duty. 

In that sense, we all unworthy servants because we constantly fall short of our duty, fall short of what He has explicitly instructed us to do. We fall short every time we judge fellow Believer. Every time we parade our good deeds so that others might see them. Every time we come to His presence carrying a grudge against someone. 

"When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" 

Fellow servants, we have a duty to perform. We have instructions from the Master. Stop chasing elusive definitions of faith and lofty systematic steps to increasing your faith. 

Go and do. 

That ultimate expression of faith- to ACT on the words of One in whom you have faith.