Saturday, November 13
Don’t play it safe!
Scripture: Esther 4-6, Psalm 131, Luke 13
Esther 4:14 (Mordecai to Esther) “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:16 (Esther to Mordecai) “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Observation
God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, but His unseen hand is everywhere. Mordecai sees it in Esther’s rise to become queen. God has placed her in this position “for such a time as this.” She is there for a purpose: to save God’s people. And should she choose not to fulfill that purpose, God will find another way to save His people; His purpose will be accomplished, but Esther will miss out.
Esther’s response is to ask for prayer, and then she promises to do her part and approach the king, even though it means risking her life. Her devotion and determination to do what is right and fulfill God’s purpose are expressed in her words, “And if I perish, I perish.”
Application
Both of these statements inspire me.
For such a time as this. God has purposes for each of us, things for us to do that He has uniquely prepared, placed and equipped us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
A retired friend recently quoted that verse to me and said, “I am confident that the Lord has good works which He has prepared for me to do, and I am looking for those.” He is here “for such a time as this.”
I believe that is true for me, for each of us. I want to be listening and attentive, ready to see what God has put before me and then step into it. What is God’s purpose for me in this time?
If I perish, I perish. Fulfilling our purpose may involve risk and sacrifice. Esther didn’t know if she would survive the effort—but she did it anyway.
When I obey God and do what He calls, it may cost me dearly—but I want to do it anyway. I don’t want the risks, dangers or costs to keep me from trying. I don’t want to play it safe and miss out on God’s best. What is keeping me from taking the risk? Wanting to play it safe?
Prayer: Lord, I anticipate following You into Your purposes—living the adventure that You have planned for me. I want to do Your will, and not play it safe!