13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. – Esther 4:13-17
This week I have been studying the book of Esther. For those of you who have never taken the time to read the entire book of Esther you really must take time to do so. I have read it several times and I am always impressed with Esther’s courage, and also how unselfish she was to risk her own comforts and lifestyle for the wellbeing of her people.
When is the last time you risked your own comforts, or life, or reputation so that someone else could live as you do or be blessed with a better or safer life, whether spiritually, physically, or financially?
Esther was a beautiful woman who had been selected by the King to be the replacement for Queen Vashti. Esther was given her choice of fine clothing and beautiful jewelry. She was given wonderful beauty treatments each day. Of all of the women that stood before the King, he saw her as the most beautiful. She was given a place of huge honor, that as the Queen.
Esther’s uncle Mordecai sent word to her that a decree had gone out that all of the Jews young and old including women and children must be killed and slaughtered and annihilated in a single day (Esther 3:13). When Esther heard of this decree she did not eat or drink for three nights and then she broke the law by going before the King on behalf of her people without being summoned first by him. Unless you were summoned by the King you were never to enter his quarters or you risked being killed.
In Esther 4:16 she tells Mordecai “I will go in to see the King If I must die, I must die.”
Is there anything in your life that you are this passionate about? What are you willing to die for?
Maybe we don’t come in contact with those each day that are about to perish physically, but what about those that we come in contact with each day that are perishing spiritually. Are we willing to risk sharing Jesus with them when we are at work or at school or just out and about living our lives? Do we see that their soul being saved and them being introduced to Jesus is worth that risk or are we more comfortable playing it safe and letting the next person be the one to share Jesus with them.
At other times we may possibly be concerned about what our friends will think if we associate with someone that may not have the same financial status we have or someone that is struggling in some way through life. Someone that others may consider socially unacceptable.
As Christians we are called to be Christ like. Christ also left the comforts and royalty of heaven to come and save all mankind. He laid down His life for what he was passionate about, and that was His love for us.
This is a call for each of us to be more courageous and to live life on purpose and with purpose. This is also a call to live life fully outside of ourselves. To serve humanity by faithfully trusting that if God places someone in our path that needs our help on assistance in anyway although it may involve risk, he will be there to protect us through the process.
Let’s be His hands and feet. “Who knows if perhaps we were made for just such a time as this?” We will never know unless we respond to His calling. Be Blessed and be Courageous Women of God!
