2009 – Day 184.July 14 – I’m Available

2009 – Day 184.July 14 – I’m Available

Passage of the Day: Esther 2: 19 – 4: 14 … Esther 2 – 4 … Linked for study …

My Journal for Today: If you’ve read and studied these passages we’ve been reviewing these past days, you have to be stricken with Mordecai’s mistake. He first had calculated that God would deliver His people without his young niece, whom he had raised as his own daughter, having to reveal her Jewish heritage. But, as God’s word shows so often (and you can read about it in Isaiah 55: 8-9 - linked here), God’s sovereign ways are most certainly not logical, nor at times predictable.

God’s plan was in motion; and as we’ve seen, it definitely involved Esther, who had now become Queen of Persia; and Mordecai realized that God had placed her in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to have a potential influence to change the King’s mind and save all the Jews of that time who were in mortal danger due to the scheming of Haman.

And in today’s devotional, Chuck Swindoll makes an important point about how we view God’s sovereignty. In his discussion, Swindoll says that it might seem that there’s no reason for believers in God to be actively pursuing God’s will because, after all He’s in absolute control and is going to do His will – despite – man’s effort. But if there’s one thing we learn from biblical history is that God controls and moves in this world and in history though the faithful action of His people; and His will and plan ALWAYS involves the actions and decisions of mankind.

Therefore, as Swindoll accurately points out, the sovereignty of God actually brings man to be MORE active, not less so. And Mordecai and Esther are good examples of this. When Mordecai realized that God had placed Esther in exactly the right place to have influence on the only man who could change the existing orders Haman had schemed to create, Mordecai moved quickly to convince Esther she had to become a mover and shaker in the court of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes). Mordecai went into action BECAUSE of God’s will, … not the opposite.

My dear one, we are God’s movers and shakers; and He desires that we become involved in His sovereign control rather than being spectators in this game we call life. Our world is an action game, not a spectator sport. And the outcome of the game is going to depend upon our values, the decisions we make, and the actions which are motivated and empowered by God. Truly this is a mystery which I’ll never be able to fully comprehend or explain, … i.e., the interaction of God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. But it is reality; and as we see in the story of Esther, God uses his children to move and change the course of history to reveal and glorify Himself.

So, join me today, dear one; and let’s get out of the stands and into the game of life, seeking God’s will and being involved His purpose. We ARE the game, my friends; and we are necessary to shape or reshape this world. If we’re available, God can use us. But if we choose to sit in the stands or on the bench, not being available due to fear or inaction, God will move and we’ll be left out of His sovereign plan for mankind.

Be assured, my fellow believer, God is going to move in HIS-STORY, to bring His victory … in His time; and He wants you and me to be part of that story. That’s why He sent His Son to die so that we can be empowered by His Spirit to live and move and have His resurrection power in life. So, let’s get out of the stands and into the game. And that is my prayer today.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, show me the way – Your way – and I’m available to get in the game. Amen