05/10/2020 - For Such A Time As This! - Esther 4

Esther's story is a great one. She is taken from total obscurity to national prominence as Queen of the Persian empire. But there's a twist. She's a Jew and Jews were about to fall on hard times because of a racist scoundrel named Haman. For now, Esther has kept her ethnicity a secret. However, she will be asked to take a risk to save her people. She doesn't want to do it because she's interested in maintaining her palace lifestyle. What would compel Esther to take a stand? The grace of God.   Her cousin Mordecai gives a simple but compelling speech. This changes Esther's perception of the world and her place in it. He says, "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” This phrase is in the passive tense. Literally, it means, "brought about by another." Esther's position as queen was a door opened for her by God. When God is in it, there is no risk. She used her position to save her people. Does this sound familiar? Jesus would use his position to offer salvation to all people. Esther lived, but Jesus would die. Christian, do you fear taking risks for God? The grace of Jesus toward you and me dispels that risk. So perhaps now more than ever God is giving you open doors of opportunity to reflect the image of his son Jesus Christ - for such a time as this!