Esther 4:1-14
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; And came even before the king's gate: for none [might] enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, [there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not. Then called Esther for Hatach, [one] of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it [was], and why it [was].So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which [was] before the king's gate.And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, [there is] one law of his to put [him] to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 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?
The other night I had a bit too much caffeine during my "date night" with my wife (thanks honey… I had a great time!). The truth is I needed it to keep me attentive and just plain awake throughout the evening. Ahh, who am I kidding? No one needs that much caffeine. That was a HUGE Coke! As is normal with my body, the stimulating effect lasted well into the night much past the time I should have been fast asleep. By 3am I had made my way out to my reading chair in the living room to indulge myself in God's Word. I figured I'm not doing my body any good by laying awake fighting this xanthine alkaloid compound that was making my heart race; so I might as well do my soul some good by communing with God.
Esther is where my pages opened and I read the passage that I so generously copied for all you loyal readers above. What an amazing story! There's so much there that hits me as relevant for a person living in our modern day culture.
We have so much. Resources are available for anyone to accomplish just about anything. If you want to start a company, a couple of phone calls, a web developer, google to find a wholesaler and that's it! You're a modern day entrepreneur. Want to talk to your mother who is 400 miles away… sure! [And for free when you're IN]
Beyond all that cool stuff, God has blessed us immeasurably. Look at where are churches are today. We have great facilities, great music, great everything! Last night, I met with the Senior Pastor (ß sorry… this is to see if you are reading this!) and we were talking about how incredible it is that God has allowed our church to have such a great staff with such great chemistry and potential.
Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but when everything lines up so well… when it is all good, something stirs up in me because I remember the obligation that God has placed on us from scriptures like you just read.
Esther had it good! Cozy and comfortable way beyond what her peers were enjoying. Yet it is very clear that God intended her to take a risk way beyond what any of her childhood friends, way beyond even what her mentor and guardian would ever have to take. She would essentially have to risk her life… her social status… her comfort all for a people that God called His own.
That's enough to motivate me! No more caffeine after 6PM! And yes… I need to get to work producing what God has called me to produce.
d a n p o n j i c a n
C O M M U N I T Y pastor
Heavenview UPC ▪ Winston-Salem, NC
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