For Such a Time as This!

We tend to spend a great deal of time trying to figure out God’s plan and purpose for our lives. We find ourselves hanging loosely to the promise found in Jeremiah where the Lord declares: “For I know the plans I have for you…They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (29:11 NLT); yet, we live as though we are always in question of the details. We find ourselves doing more questioning than simply trusting in God and stepping out in faith.

There was a young Jewish woman in time’s past who had gone from being an unknown to finding herself married to the king. A problem came along by the name Haman who decided it was time to eradicate the Jews. This young woman, Queen Esther, was confronted by her uncle, Mordecai, as to the severity of the situation.

She told Mordecai there was nothing she could do as it was against the law of the land for her to approach the king without his summoning her. Then Mordecai spoke these words of truth to her: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 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” (Esther 4:13-14).

He warned her that by choosing to be silent, she was condemning herself as well. He challenged her to recognize that her escape from Haman’s cruel plot was impossible. And then he said to her: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this? (v. 14).

Mordecai understood that God was always at work. God had a plan and purpose for everything that happened whether we accept it or not. The word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was as real for Esther as it is for you today.

God has positioned you in a place where you can be of great service and benefit to His kingdom. That doesn’t mean that you are necessarily fulfilling the role He has for you; but, it does mean that where you are is important and you should be busy impacting that domain for the sake of the kingdom.

In my past, I spent a long time waiting for God to position me where He wanted me to be only to discover when I finally woke-up that where I was at that moment was exactly where He wanted me to be. The work He had for me was right there but I was waiting for some kind of sign or waiting for Him to move me where I thought I should be at the time.

Esther had a big decision to make. She recognized what she had to do. So she asked Mordecai to gather the Jews together to pray and fast for her so that she would be received into the king’s presence in order to speak to him. When the day came, God opened the doors necessary and Esther was received in and after some time of maneuvering, Haman’s plan was exposed and the king had him killed (Esther 5-6).

What would the outcome have been if Esther has refused to step up to the plate? Would the Jews living in the land have been wiped out because she failed to understand this was God’s time and place for her to shine? She and her people would have been destroyed if she had remained silent.

Look at your life! Look at where God has placed you right now and understand that whether you see His plan for you or not, whether you see His purpose for you or not doesn’t mean that He doesn’t have it all worked out.

Where you are right now is where God desires for you to be. He hasn’t placed you there to linger around or lounge about waiting for the next step; rather, He has called you to be about the Father’s business right where you are.

So many Christians today simply go to church once or maybe twice a week and call it good. They feel as though they have fulfilled their duty. To them, being a Christian is a name not an activity. The day will come when each of these will be confronted by the missed opportunities as they stand before the Lord to give an account.

Paul puts it out there this way: “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11 NLT).

My challenge to you today is to recognize that God has called you to just such a time as this. It is not a time to be slack but a time to be busy working for the Lord, shining the Light of Jesus to the lost and dying all around. You were created for just such a time as this! Shine bright!

Scripture Reading: “O LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O LORD ; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD . The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.” (Psalm 25:1-10 NLT)

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I give You praise and offer up thanksgiving because You have given me life. I also praise You for having a purpose and a plan for me. I pray that You will help me to understand that where I am right now is where You want me to be, I simply need to get busy working for You. You will move me when and if a move becomes necessary, I simply need to trust You and hold onto You and Your plan by faith. Lord, I love You and I seek to obey You in all things. In Jesus’ name, I pray…AMEN!