Verse of the Day - Esther 4:14b

"...and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
~ Esther 4:14b (NIV)

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Wow. I just finished re-reading the book of Esther. What an amazing story of God's hand on individuals and His people! If you've not read this book, I encourage to take a little while and read about the power of God... http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201;&version=31;

...for such a time as this...

I just love that concept -- that I, as a believer in Jesus, am placed here where I am, born in a little suburb of America in the 20th century, for a reason. God has purpose for me! Whatever positions I hold, whatever possessions I have, whoever I am acquainted with...it is for a purpose. His purpose. Not my purpose.

That was Haman's problem. His life was all about him. (you'll have to read the book, or you won't know who I'm talking about.) He reveled in the high position and wealth that King Xerxes had given him, and it totally went to his head. Talk about arrogant and prideful! And when Mordecai refused to pay him honor, flames came out of Haman's ears! As far as he was concerned, the world revolved around him, and anyone who refused to see it his way was worth getting rid of. But as the story unfolds, God reminds Haman and the world that pride does go before a fall, and elevating oneself in arrogance will lead to your destruction.

But back to purpose...

You may think you don't have a purpose in life. You go to work, come home, eat and sleep, and then get up and do it all over again, and it just doesn't seem like there's any purpose to it all. I urge you, my friend, to quit putting God in a box. Stop minimizing the magnitude of God's almighty power and His total sovereignty! You're thinking very small if you think that you, as His child, are floating aimlessly through this life without a call to purposeful service.

Esther could've thought that being called into the king's pool of available virgins was a curse. It may have been scary; it may have felt awkward. But we don't ever hear that she complained to God about where she was placed. And when the very existence of her people was on the line, her cousin Mordecai challenges her to open her eyes to God's plan and purpose and act in His power.

Where you are may feel awkward or scary, but if you trust God to be the Supreme Authority of this world, you can trust that He has His hand on you and where you are for a specific reason. Yet, we always want to know what the plan is, don't we? Well, guess what? Esther was queen for 5 years before she was called to lay it all on the line for God. So, just because God has not revealed His plan to you for where you are in this life, please don't think He fell asleep at the wheel. He never sleeps and is always working. You can count on that!

The saying goes, "Bloom where you're planted...", and I like that saying! Esther bloomed where she was planted by God. So did Mordecai. So did Joseph of the Old Testament in Pharaoh's court. And David did in service to King Saul. And Daniel did in the royal palace of Babylon. And on and on it goes with the people of God who take God's challenge to bloom where they're planted.

Mordecai was pretty pointed when he told Esther, "... if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place..." (Esther 4:14a) As my pastor likes to remind our church, God wants us to join Him in His work, not visa versa. He has plans, and those plans will be accomplished...one way, or another. We need to get on board, 'cuz the ship is sailing.

You may not understand, but you can believe that God's life plan for you has a purpose...a good purpose, a godly purpose. Or you can complain and grumble about whatever circumstance you're in, refusing to open your eyes to God's mysterious ways, and miss out on the blessing of being a minister of God's grace and love.

Your choice...

Love,
Joelene