Esther was a young Jewish girl who found herself numbered among a group of young women to be prepared for the possibility of becoming the next Queen. She was very beautiful and found favor with King Xerxes. She was ultimately chosen to be his Queen. She was advised by her uncle to keep her family background and nationality a secret (Esther 2:19). The King did not know that she was a Jew.

Haman was the most powerful official in the empire. When he passed by, everyone was to bow to him. Haman took a ride one day and became enraged because the Jewish people, Mordecai in particular, refused to bow. It so angered him that he began a plot. He paid a visit to the King. I can’t help but think about the serpent in the garden. He approached the King with the intention of destroying God’s children. He told King Xerxes that these Jews kept themselves separate. They followed different laws. He suggested the King should issue a decree to destroy all of them because they refused to obey the laws of the King.

The King agreed. The decree is written, sealed by the his signet ring and sent by messenger to 127 provinces under his control. All Jews, including men, women and children would be killed. There is a problem. The King does not know that his beloved Queen is a Jew.

Esther’s uncle Mordecai gets word into the palace to Esther that she must intervene in the evil plot of Haman. She sends word back that it would be her death to enter the Kings inner court without being summoned. He surely would not hold out his gold scepter to her as he had not summoned her for thirty days. She was afraid death would be the result of such an uninvited approach to the King.

Uncle Mordecai’s message back to her is our scripture for today. I urge you to read the book of Esther. It is a beautiful story. It ends well because of the bravery of this young Jewish Queen who chose to defend her people even if led to her death.

Thought For Today:
I take part in a weekly Bible study with some awesome women of God. One of the women brought our attention to this scripture today. I have read Esther many times. Never quite made the connection on this message from Mordecai and its relevance to our day, until this morning.

As believers we have two options. We can either sit silent while the present culture of our country tries to blot the message of Christ from our history and discussion. Or we can go on spreading the gospel of Christ, loud and clear. We are to be the reflection of Christ to the world. Our silence and dissociation from Him will have consequences. In other words, we to will go down with the ship. Though Esther was the Queen, she was a Jew. Her silence would not keep her from suffering the consequence of the decree. If we do not answer, God will find someone else who is willing to step out of the shadows in obedience.

It is now our time. Like Esther, we are made for just such a time as this. Is God waiting and watching to see how we, followers of Christ…Christians…Believers…Lambs in the Good Shepherd’s fold, will handle the business of our beloved Jesus? We are “the temple of God” walking in the world. We carry the message of God’s love and the forgiveness and grace of Jesus. Will we choose to be silent because of criticism of our message? Will we bow to a wayward culture? We can begin right now to reflect the goodness of our Father in heaven. Will the lambs be silenced?

Scripture For Today:
Esther 4:13-14
13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 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?” (NLT)

I Corinthians 3:16

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? (NLT)

Prayer For Today:

Hello Father! Times are changing. Your word tells us to expect a day when right is wrong, and wrong is right. That day has arrived. We pray for courage to step out of the shadows and speak up. Jesus was not afraid to die for us. Remove caution and fear from us. Let us be bold speaking the name of Jesus loud and clear. We pray for the courage of Esther to do Your work in our world. Forgive us our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

© 2015 Kathy Ledbetter all rights reserved

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