‘You were made queen for just such a time as this.’ Esther 4:14 NLT
The story of Esther teaches us two important truths: (1) You need mentors to guide you. Because she was willing to listen to Mordecai, Esther discovered that her calling wasn’t just to be a queen but a deliverer of her people. So, who is your Mordecai? Who knows you well enough to clarify and confirm your calling in life? Who loves you enough to challenge you when you get off track or strengthen and encourage you when you want to give up and run? Where we have blind spots, we need people with 20/20 vision to speak into our lives. Joshua listened to Moses. Timothy listened to Paul. Ruth listened to Naomi. Who are you listening to? (2) You need to know you’re in the place God wants you to be. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, challenged her and changed her life by saying, ‘Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?’ Esther didn’t set out to be queen. But once she was, she had to decide between her comfort and her calling. It’s a choice you must make too. You say, ‘What’s my calling?’ It could involve your job, your marriage, your tasks as a parent, your friendships. It could involve the neighborhood where you live or volunteering at your church. One thing is certain: when God calls, it’s your ‘time’. You may be tempted to think you’re just treading water right now, waiting for some other time or more important opportunity. No, you don’t get to choose your time; God does that! The psalmist said, ‘My times are in Your hands.’ (Psalm 31:15 NIV) SoulFood: Ezek 46–48 Mark 14:27–42 Ps 3 Pro 21:4–8
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Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage
With freedom comes responsibility. Until we confront our issues, nothing can change. If we do not confront them, we will suffer the consequences of ignoring them. For too long, we have disregarded the rising tide of sin in our nation, but we cannot do so anymore. In our churches, we have abandoned declaring the power of God’s Word for debating doctrine. We have replaced Holy Spirit conviction with the condemnation of judgment. We have traded a zeal for reaching the lost for the indifference of apathy. Declaring separation of church and state, America finds God offensive. We have removed prayer from our schools and eradicated the Ten Commandments from public places. We are now called a post-Christian nation. If Jesus is our true source of freedom, and we are intent on eliminating His name from our culture, the only other alternative is bondage. When the Prince of Peace is no longer welcome, we can expect conflict and confusion. Rather than living in the fear of God, we now live in fear of one another. We are the called and commissioned! We must devote ourselves to prayer. We must study and stand upon God’s Word. We must speak out in the voting booths and the streets. The faith-filled, Bible-believing Christian has a charge to keep! Today's Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you be filled with the conviction and courage to contend for righteousness. Let God arise and His enemies be scattered! Today's Bible Reading: Old Testament Isaiah 37:1-38:22 New Testament Galatians 6:1-18 Psalms & Proverbs Psalm 65:1-13 Proverbs 23:24-25 JH Ministries |
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