June 11, 2013 … Is The Time Is Right?

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 162

Passage of the Day #1: Esther 4: 13-16 [We’re called to die to self to live in and for Christ. ] [NLT] …  
13 Mordecai sent back this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What’s more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?” 
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I am willing to die.” 
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Contextual Study for today’s passage: Esther, Chapter 4-5 [NLT] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Luke 9: 23 [It’s time – today – to be willing to die to self so that we can live for Christ.] [NLT] …  
23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. ..."

Reference Passage #2: Acts 1: 8 [Jesus declared why you will be empowered as His witnesses.] [NLT] …
 "... 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

My Journal for Today: If you had been Esther, the anointed Queen of Persia, confronted with a life-threatening situation, but in a place to be God’s agent and to speak out for the living God in a time which could influence the powers that be, … WHAT WOULD YOU DO? … Would you do what Jesus calls us to do as His witnesses (see Acts 1: 8 and Luke 9: 23 copied above)? Or would we do what comes natural and keep our mouths shut, letting the desires of self overcome the desires of the Savior?

 If you have read through Chapters 4-5 of the book of Esther we read of the remarkable sacrifice which Esther was willing to make in going uninvited before her husband, the King of Persia, to stand in the gap for her people and her God. And then we think where we are today, with people falling daily to the plague of p0rnography and babies being killed by the thousands, and many of us not being willing to die to self and come forward to speak out for our God in this godless world.

 Is today our time to stand in the gap for God as did Esther? What could we do – what CAN we do even today – to go before “the king” and declare that “enough-is-enough?!” Even if it would mean that our very lives might be threatened today, is the time right for us to be an Esther for our times?

I’ll leave it to you to deal with that poignant and pertinent personal question; but for me I must pray that I’ll be ready to stand up for Jesus if I’m given the opportunity today.

Listen to Daniel O’Donnell sing that poignant song, Here I Am, Lord at this link; and then decide if you’re willing to die to self today and take action for Christ in today’s world.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … here I am; … send me! … Amen