Corona Devo 1336

Do we know Esther?

She was a strong woman who found herself in one of the most high-ranking positions in her land: Queen to King Xerxes.

The story of how she got there is too-crazy to have been made up.  But basically, the previous queen, Vashti, said no to the king, which meant that Vashti was deposed as queen.  

Now Xerxes needed a new queen.  

It was a surprise to Xerxes that he needed to fill the position of queen, but not to God.  God had created someone for that position.  God had raised-up and chosen one of his children for that position and that time.  God had been preparing someone for that position.  

And now was the time for Esther to serve in that position. 

King Xerxes had many women to choose from, but he chose Esther.  

If all truth-be-known and told (and read in the Bible)...and in perfect-timeliness...and in His all-knowing power: God chose Esther.

She became Queen and it ensued that a decree was made to destroy all of the Jewish people in their area.  Esther was Jewish.

It took her a moment, but she realized, stood-up and spoke-up for God and for His people.  

Esther's (God-fearing) cousin Mordecai spoke truth and responsibility into Esther (about her position as queen) when he said:

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. (14) For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. 

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  

(15) Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: (16) “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  ~Esther 4:12-16

Esther did not perish.  The King listened to her plea, empathized with it, trusted her, and saved her people from destruction.

But none of that would have happened if Esther had not accepted that she had been raised up by God's authority, and entered in to the huge responsibility of using the gifts (and position) that God had given her.

~~~

How about us?

We are strong men and women who find ourselves in home/business/health/education/church/family/marital/governmental/leadership positions in our land.

The story of how each of us got here today is probably too-crazy to have been made up.  We all have a past and dysfunction and trials and sin.  We all also all have a Savior who came for us.  Died for us  Saved us.  

It's no surprise to God where we are today and the opportunities we have to serve Him.

God has created us for the position we're in today.  God has raised-up and chosen us (one of his children) for the position that we are in today.  God has been preparing us for the position that we are in today.  

And now is the time for us to serve in that position. 

What is God asking you and me to step up and into today, in service to Him? 

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  ~Esther 4:14

~~~

I was spiritually delighted to see a (Biblically) strong man from Louisiana find himself (earlier this week) in one of the most high-ranking positions in our (United States) land: Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

The story of how he got there this week is too-crazy to have been made up, but it was no surprise to God.   

I say this in full recognition of God's authority (not human-credit): God created this guy for this position.  God has raised-up and chosen this man for this position.  God has been preparing this man for this position.  

And now is the time for Mike Johnson from Louisiana to serve in that position. 

In humility and complete awareness of the fallibility of men and women, but also in the awareness and belief that God equips and raises us up to serve Him, please absorb what Mike Johnson said in his first public address as Speaker of the House for the United States of America.  See if you can hear whispers from the Book of Esther in his words:

"I don't believe there are any coincidences in a manner like this.  I believe that Scripture, the Bible, is very clear that God is the One that raises up those in authority.  He raised up each of you...all of us. 

And I believe that God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment and this time. This is my belief, I believe that each one of us has a huge responsibility today, to use the gifts that God has given us..."    ~Mike Johnson, Louisiana (10-25-2023) - Speaker of the House for the United States of America 

~~~

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  

~~~

What "royal position" do we find ourselves in today, and how can we leverage it for the glory of God?

We are strong men and women and we are called by our Lord to stand strong for Him wherever we are.

Let's accept (and step into) that we have been created, raised up and chosen by God for such a time as this.

(For real-life inspiration, see Mike Johnson's speech here: https://youtu.be/obWEEKY117U?si=gYkxDaI9J2LeLq61  )

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com