Today, we jump into the story of Queen Esther and Mordecai where the most critical decision of Esther’s life is about to take place:
Esther 4:8-16 NLT
Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people. So Hathach returned to Esther with Mordecai’s message. Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” … Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “… 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?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
When Esther was suddenly elevated out of nowhere to become queen, the last thing she saw coming was to risk her life to save her people. But that was exactly what happened and the position God placed her in.
So often, our places of greatest responsibility are the same places we must exhibit the greatest courage. The two just seem to go hand in hand.
Where is your greatest place of responsibility right now? Where are you being called to show the most courage? Has God placed you there “for such a time as this?”
Listen to Mordecai’s challenge to Esther and her response one more time: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “I will go … If I must die, I must die.”
If there is a place in your life right now where God is calling you to take action, to speak up, to intervene, to show a confidence like you never have before, then take courage, my friend. Call on God’s strength, know He has called and created for a purpose, and be bold in obedience.
Let’s commit this to prayer: “Father God, where you have given me great responsibility, I know You ask me to display great courage. Help me to make the hard call and do the right thing for You, in Your name. As above, so below.”