I’m reading When Women Pray by T.D. Jakes right now, and I’m on the chapter about Esther. This quote stood out to me:
This is a principle we need to understand in today’s world: when God opens the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing on you, there’s always a reason why. God loves you and genuinely desires your happiness, but there’s always more involved with His blessings than simply filling your bank account or blowing up your social media.
What Mordecai wanted Esther to see (Esther 4:13-14) is that God-given blessings include God-assigned responsibility. He has a purpose in mind. He’s given you something so that you can make use of it for His glory, not for your own.
In other words, you have been blessed so that you can be a blessing. You have been extended favor so that you can reflect that favor on others.
~T.D. Jakes, When Women Pray, p.129, parenthesis mine
Esther was the ultimate rags-to-riches, orphan-to-throne story. She had endured much hardship in her life, losing both her parents at a young age and living as a Jew in a land of exile. God gave her favor with those around her and allowed her to ascend to a high position of power, but He had a greater purpose than just improving Esther’s life in mind.
In Esther 4:14, Mordecai says this: “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?” (NIV)
If Esther had refused to go to the king and intercede for her people, Mordecai believed God still would have sent someone else. God’s purpose will not be thwarted if the one He intends to send says no. However, Esther would have missed out on being a part of God’s work on behalf of the Jews and not been blessed by partaking in the blessing of God’s redemptive work.
“For such a time as this” is a snippet we find often printed on mugs and t-shirts. Seeing it used in such ways makes it overused and trite, when in reality it is a very powerful statement.
It is easy to see how Esther was elevated to actual royalty, with a crown, title, and riches to support her. It’s less easy for us to see today how we too have been elevated to royalty, and that we too have come to our royal positions “for such a time as this.”
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) reminds us, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
How are we royalty?
Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV): “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will”.
We are adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters–not as grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or anything else. Sons and daughters. God is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and as His children, we are royalty, just like Esther.
And our position comes with responsibilities:
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV): “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God, through the freely given blood of Jesus, has adopted us as sons and daughters and invites us to participate with Him in His work here on the earth–making disciples, telling everyone about His love, forgiveness, and grace, teaching, leading, loving. In designing us, He laid within us the desire for something more, the longing to be a part of something, to desire that our lives have purpose and meaning. If you’re honest with yourself, you feel that pull. So do I.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss out on being a part of God’s redemptive work on earth. Esther had an opportunity laid before her, an invitation from God to use her royal position to advocate for her people. We have opportunities every day to advocate for others from our royal position. Because not only are we royalty, we are royal priests–which means we can also advocate for others through prayer before the throne of our Father in heaven.
Let’s join God’s redemptive work today, starting with those around us. Lift them up in prayer, find out their needs and do what you can to meet them. And above all else, be aware of every opportunity that comes your way because of your royal position. It may not always be easy, as Esther found that out when she chose to approach the king uninvited, but it’s worth it to know you’re operating within God’s plan as a part of His bigger picture.
You truly are where you are for such a time as this.
Blessings,
~Lynne
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