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REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “the threat of annihilation.” A threat is a statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not done. Annihilation means complete destruction. We shall reflect on the fact that there is a threat of annihilation when the wicked and racist are in power.

Beloved in the Lord, a racist a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic towards people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group. Racists usually threaten to annihilate the percieved racial enemies when they feel politically insecured. Haman was classical example of a wicked leader and racist who sort to use power to annihilate the Jewish race in Persia. He felt threatened and dishonoured by a Jew called Mordacai hence “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. (Esther 3:5-6). My dear friend Lord Acton in 1887 wrote “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” Haman was offended by one person but because power has corrupted him absolutely, he decided to wipe out or annihilate his enemies entire race.

When wicked and ungodly men have access to power they become vindictive and antagonistic towards their pecieved enemies. The will go any length to pertuate injustice and atrocities. Haman even attempted bribing King Xerxes just to annhiliate the Jews, he said to the King ““There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. ⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” ¹⁰ So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. ¹¹ “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.” Esther 3:8-11. Indeed Proverbs 29:2 rightly says that “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2)

Bloved in the Lord, power if for service it is not for ploting evil against our enemies. Christian leaders must follow the perfect example of Jesus in the use of power or authority. Jesus had the power to destroy His enemies yet on the cross He siad, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Christians in the position of power must serve and love their subordinates or subject regardless of their attitudes. As a leader, people will offend you by refusing to following your leadership, other may criticise and say all manner of things against you but Christ must be our inspiration in the use of power and the discharge of our leadership responsibilities. Let us not bitter, vindictive and antagonistic towords our percieved enemies. Jesus has taught us that “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28) When we understand leadership and power from the persepective of Jesus we shall overcome the temptation of developing deep rooted hatred towords our enemies to the point of annihilation. Let us eschew any form of racism and ethnicity in our churches, offices and in our society. When we are place in postion of power and leadership we must serve and love all without any form of prejudices. Leadership is not about “I will show you were the power lies, it is about I will show you how I can serve you”

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, strenghen us to follow the perfect example of Jesus’ love, humility and leadership so that we shall lead with love, humility, service and above all have respect for human dignity.