#soap # Esther 03 ## Title: Not Following the Crowd ## Scripture: (Esther 3:3-4) Then the servants of the king who were at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you violating the king’s commandment?” And after they had spoken to him day after day without his paying any attention to them, they informed Haman to see whether this attitude on Mordecai’s part would be permitted. Furthermore, he had disclosed to them that he was a Jew. (NET) ## Observation: I wonder how many people said to Mordecai, “Just go along to get along. Is it really that big of a deal? You’re not being “loving” to your neighbor. Why are you making a big deal out of a little thing?” These are just some of the statements possibly made to Mordecai concerning his unwillingness to bow in respect to Haman. We are unsure why Mordecai wouldn’t bow. Possibly he already knew what we find out in the next few chapters. Perhaps Mordecai had already realized that Haman was a bad man and did not want to honor the evil inside him. Either way, it must have been very difficult for Mordecai to stand against the crowd to do what his conscience told him to do. What will you do when the pressure is on to conform to the crowd? ## Application: Follow principles, not pressure. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for giving us the courage to do what is right.