SCRIPTURE: Esther 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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?” [Esther 4:14]
Though Mordecai does not mention God (in fact God is nowhere mentioned in the whole book of Esther), he does indicate his confidence that somehow the Jews will be spared – deliverance and relief will come somehow.
He also reveals how he understands God to work – through the circumstance of Esther being queen.
This is not just a coincidence, there is a purpose behind these things; and perhaps it was for precisely for this time and purpose, to help the Jews in this time of peril.

Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” [John 12:27-28]
Jesus recognizes the purpose behind His coming, and even though its hard, He submits to God’s purpose.
“For this very reason I came; bring glory to Your Name!”

Do we see our own lives and circumstances as part of a greater plan and purpose?
Do we see where and when we live, in the circumstances that we do, as part of God’s plan for bringing in His kingdom, for bringing people back to Himself, and for fulfilling a unique and necessary role in His plan?
That I am in Ajax, that we are at Bolton C. Falby, that I live in the house that I do, with the family that I have, etc.
All the circumstances of my life -even the hard and painful ones – are not just coincidence.

God has brought me to where I am for just such a time as this; God has placed you where you are for just such a time as this.
For you and for me, for Jesus and for Esther, our calling is to do what needs to be done for God’s glory and for the blessing of others.
It may not be easy, in fact it will probably mean sacrifice and possibly suffering; our souls may be deeply troubled.
But what should we pray – save us? Or bring glory to Your Name?
Thankfully Jesus did not reject His purpose, and take the easy road; thankfully He submitted Himself to the hard but good purpose of God, and not only brought glory to God, but also helped us in the process!

As a Jesus follower, I am also invited to surrender my life to His purpose.
We may not always know exactly what that purpose is, but when in doubt, just do what you know to be right.
Live morally, live with generosity and kindness, bless the people that you meet, speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves, do good, etc. – God’s purpose will become clearer as you go.
Don’t try and figure out God’s master purpose (we will never figure it out in this life); just d the right thing in each moment and circumstance, and He will take care of the rest.
He will bring glory to His Name, and He will use your contribution to do it!

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to think of my life as a part of Your master plan. Help me not to delve into the complexities of the plan, but to focus on doing the right thing where I am, when I can.