Purpose....

Last night the family watched a movie called The Book of Esther. It was wonderful! I thought about Esther obeying her God by obeying her king, her husband, and how we are to do the same today. I Samuel 15: 22 says " But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." Yet there came a time in Esther's life when she had to go against the rules in order to do the right thing...she had to come into the presence of her husband the king without being summoned, which was punishable by death. But her husband loved her. And when she did this thing and explained her reasons, he forgave her. There is a time to obey the rules ...and there is a time to disobey the rules. God spoke through the story of Esther to me about taking a stand for what is right, for those who cannot speak for themselves. Even if it means respectfully going against the rules, or risking your own life. What courage Esther had!! She trusted in the love of her God and in the fact that He was the one who had placed her as queen ultimately and that if she had to lose her life to defend something that was wrong, like the killing of her people - the Jews, then she had to be willing to do that. How many times are we willing to lose anything ...making a stand for what is right? Are we willing to lose the friendship of those around us? Are we willing to lose the respect of people in places of authority? Are we willing to lose our lives?

Esther chapter 4 tells of a conversation that was had between Mordecai and Esther . Mordecai said...""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?” Then Esther sent this reply 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.”" For such a time as this...that is a phrase that we as Christians have heard many sermons on. Think newly about those words. Relate them to your own life. When the hardships come, God may have you in that position "for such a time as this." When the people are difficult to work with or to live with, God may have you there "for such a time as this." When you are asked to do wrong and must decide whether to do right or to be accepted...consider all the things God may accomplish through you "at such a time as this." When someone hurts you, if you retaliate, what have you done differently than a heathen would do? If you forgive, you are showing the love and grace of Christ to a person, and God may be speaking to that person, drawing them to Him, at such a time as this. Today I heard God's whisper in a movie and a phrase in the Bible. What time are you in? Can you hear His whisper in your life today?