For Such A Time As This
“But who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14
2009 was a very fast year.
I was just getting used to writing 2009 on my checks when suddenly it
transformed into 2010!
Wanting to write a devotional on 2010, it dawned on me I had better hurry
before it becomes 2011!
I
remember reading a book in high school…a book about the future.
The title was “1984.”
And then about the same time, there was that movie…the one about the
space age…about “Hal” the computer.
The title?
“2001, A Space Odyssey.”
I remember thinking how 2001 will surely never get here and now its nine
years in the past.
“But who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as
this.” Those
were the words of Mordecai to Queen Esther.
The events that led to that statement were unusual to say the least.
Esther, a beautiful young Jewish girl, has been selected the Queen to
King Xerxes. There
had been a tryout of sorts and Esther was declared the winner.
Of course, Xerxes did not know Esther was a Jew.
King Xerxes had been tricked by Haman, a real “bad” man, into setting a date
for all Jews to be killed.
Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, came to her in hopes of persuading Esther to
change the King’s mind.
Esther reminded Mordecai how dangerous this plan was…and then came
Mordecai’s famous words:
“But who knows that you have come to royal position for such a time as
this!”
Thankfully, this story has a happy ending…well, except for Haman.
King Xerxes grants Esther’s wish, realizes the plot of Haman against
the Jews and has him killed.
The Jews are saved.
God had brought Esther to the right time and the right place to make a
difference. And
she had responded.
Sometimes the events which bring us to a certain moment can seem almost
miraculous, or on the other hand, mundane.
But regardless of what brings us there, God can present us with a
moment…a moment that may come around only once in a lifetime.
And our response to that moment can be the catalyst that makes a
difference…to a nation…or to a person.
Who knows what opportunities will be presented to us in 2010.
We are surrounded by situations desperately needing a channel of God’s
love. We
can be that channel…if we are willing…if we are aware.
Sometimes we are put in the right place…at the right time…the right
time to be used by God to make a difference.
It may even seem insignificant to us, but through Christ, it can change
the world!
Let’s challenge each other to be aware…of the needs of other’s around
us…of the opportunities we have because it may just be that God has brought us
to a certain place…at a certain time.
And who knows…maybe God has brought us to that place in history “for
such a time as this!”
Thanks be to God.
In Christ's
Love,
Billy