From: August 19, 2024
“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV).
Esther, whose name means, “star,” won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Her relative, Mordecai, who had raised her as his own when her parents died, asked her not to forget her people and to consider God’s purpose for her new position.
Some time later, although she was afraid, she asked her people to fast and pray for three days, after which she went before the king to make an appeal. She told the king of an evil conspiracy an official named Haman had put into motion against the Jews. The Lord gave her favor with the king and wicked Haman was executed and her people rescued.
When God elevates us to a new job or position, we should consider how the Lord wants to use our new influence. “Who knows?” Perhaps God put you just where you are today, so that you might tell someone about the One who can rescue them from sin and death. Perhaps you were put in this very position for this very time that you might fulfill God’s purpose.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we don’t understand the times in which we live. Help us to see our purpose in this time. And strengthen us to carry out faithfully the calling You have given us for this season. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 19, 2023
“But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body” (1 Corinthians 12:18-20 NLT).
It is the Lord that gives out spiritual gifts to those who have believed and received Jesus. He gives them to each according to His will, so that the local church has every spiritual gift it needs to function and fulfill His commission. Yet, many churches seem to limp along as if missing some key part. As a result, little growth is seen, disunity prevails, and members fail to care for one another.
Has the Lord, who has “put the body together” (24), failed to give the church a necessary gift? Certainly not. The problem is that many members of the body are not putting their spiritual gifting to use in the church. Some because of ignorance or immaturity. Others because of a lack of spiritual zeal or some distracting or disabling sin area.
Church members often come to the pastor suggesting the church needs this missing ministry or that unmet service. Could it be that the person who saw the need is the one that the Lord has gifted and called to fulfill it? After all, the church is us! It’s the people, not the steeple! If the church is missing something, could it be because someone in the church isn’t exercising the gift and calling God gave them?
Do you know why the Lord has put you in the local body of Christ? Are you fulfilling His purpose for your life in a way that makes for harmony in the church and cares for others? If the church is missing some ministry, could it be because you are not exercising the gift and called God has given you?
PRAYER: Dear Father, You have saved us and adopted us into Your family, so that we are one body. And You have gifted each of us as members of Christ’s body with certain important functions. Help us to work together for Your purpose, being empowered by Your Spirit to carry out the calling You have on our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 19, 2022
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Esther, whose name means, “star,” won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Her relative, Mordecai, who had raised her as his own when her parents died, asked her not to forget her people and to consider God’s purpose for her new position.
When God elevates us to a new job or position, we should always consider how the Lord wants to use our new influence. “Who knows?” Perhaps God put you just where you are today, so that you might tell someone about the One who can rescue them from sin and death.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we don’t understand the times in which we live. Help us to see our purpose in this time. And strengthen us to carry out faithfully the calling You have given us for this season. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 19, 2016
When the evil Haman convinced the king of Persia to issue a decree to annihilate the Jews, Queen Esther asked her fellow Jews to fast and pray for three days. One night during this time of prayer and fasting, the king couldn’t sleep. He asked his servants to bring his book of chronicles and memorable deeds and read them to him. Perhaps he hoped to fall asleep to their bedtime reading. However, the section they read reminded him of how Esther’s relative Mordecai had helped save him from an assassination conspiracy. This led to him honoring Mordecai and eventually, hanging Haman. What a coincidence that the king’s insomnia led to reading the exact report concerning Mordecai. This little book of Esther, which is notable in that it never mentions God, is filled with such “coincidences.” While God’s people fasted and prayed, He worked behind the scenes to move the king’s hand.
From: August 19, 2015
The orphaned Esther won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Yet, her cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her as his own when her parents died, asked her not to forget her people and to consider God’s purpose for her new position. When God elevates us to a new job or position, we should always consider how we might use it as a platform for doing His will. “Who knows?” Perhaps God put you just where you are today, so that you might tell someone about the One who can rescue them from sin and death.