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For Such a Time as This

In my previous devotion, the topic was how God arranges our calendar according to His wisdom and direction. I'd like to pursue that idea with you a little further. Consider Queen Esther. God led and enabled her to carry out His will in an amazing way. A book of the Bible is named after her. Did you know God used a beauty contest to accomplish a great deliverance for His people? God's people were ruled by a foreign king. As this king searched for a queen, a beauty contest was held. The winner would be the new queen. Esther was very beautiful and the king chose her as his queen. She was also one of God's people, the Jews. She might have "lived happily ever after," but becoming a queen meant serving God in a way she could have never imagined.

One of the king's powerful helpers hated the Jews and made a plan to kill them all. It almost worked. It became Esther's job to reveal the wicked plan to the king and beg him to stop it from happening. Queen Esther's uncle knew that if anyone could influence the king, she could. He reminded her "for such a time as this" God had made her queen. No one else could persuade the king to protect God's people instead of destroying them but her. The king listened to Esther. God's people were spared. Today, Jews still celebrate how God used Esther to deliver them from their enemies in the feast of Purim.

What does this ancient story have to do with me, you may ask? Even if you're not a queen, a beauty contestant, or a part of the Jewish people, like Esther you do have a role to play in carrying out God's good plans. Like Esther, He has appointed you to do work for Him that He has assigned to no one else. You live in a particular place, with particular people, at a particular time in history. No one is quite like you with the same gifts and abilities or the same opportunities. Esther used her unique opportunity to help her people and God was honored by her effort.

Good Friday has again clearly shown how valuable we are to God. Our value is great because of the price paid for us. Our Father in heaven bought us not with silver or gold,

1 Peter 1:19

"but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

Valuable people have a valuable role in life as they serve God and others. "For such a time as this" our wise and loving God continues to give you excellent opportunities to serve Him and will enable you to carry out His plans with the courage and strength you need for every assignment. God has uniquely equipped and positioned you to carry out the work He is calling you alone to do. He prepares you for your unique responsibility and helps you then to do it.

Psalm 37:23

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way."

Heavenly Father, Thank You that I belong to You through the blood of Jesus. Continue to guide and direct my days so that I might carry out Your good plans for my life. Amen.