~ Not Silent ~

[Lani]

Esther 4:12-17
12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.



Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 (NIV)



Esther faced a difficult, life-threatening decision. She could decide to insert herself into the situation of her people, or she could stand aside. Mordecai told her, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance… will arise from another place” (v. 14). Esther chose to be an instrument of God. If she had not made that decision, however, God could have worked in another way, through another person.

Even today, I might be called on by God just as Esther was. It is unlikely that I will be asked to intervene for a nation, but I might be called on to serve God in a way that is just as scary to me. I know that God is working all around us every day, and I want to be ready to step up to the task if God needs me. I don’t want to remain silent. I don’t want God to have to work in another way. If God chooses me, I want to be ready – at all times.



Prayer: Dear God, tune our spirit to your leading and your will. We want to be your messengers today. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: Those who remain silent when God calls.

Thought for the Day: Each of us is God’s first choice for the task of bringing love into the world.

Story shared by: D. Keys (PA)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional:11/22/11