Life Choices
Thursday, November 27
Esther 4:14 (ESV)
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Devotion
Perhaps you are familiar with the biblical account that today’s scripture references. Mordecai (Esther’s uncle) is addressing Queen Esther in this passage. He is prompting her to use her influence as queen to go before the king and seek help for her people due to Haman having convinced King Xerxes to issue a decree for the Jews to be put to death. Esther stood in the balance between the genocide of her people and the possibility of being put to death to go before the king uninvited. Could she cower away, ignore this situation, and try to hide her true identity as a Jew while her own people are slaughtered? Could she ignore the insistence of her uncle to act, having been placed in a position of power and influence?
God has put each of us in a divine place to reach certain people, and sometimes He has orchestrated a plan to place us somewhere to be a critical helper for certain situations. It is important and of great urgency, as time races on, to be in tune with God’s plans and purposes and to be ready and willing to be used for God’s glory. We need, more than ever, as the coming of the Lord draws near, to be good stewards of our time, our talents, and resources, as well as be keenly aware that God has placed us where we are for something bigger than ourselves.
Matthew 16:25 says, “For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it: but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.” Mordecai told Esther if she kept silent that she and her father’s house would perish and that God would raise up someone else to deliver her people. Most of us will never come across this kind of life-and-death dilemma literally as Esther did. But we do make choices every day as to setting aside our own agenda (our life) to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit to act in situations. We owe our life to the One who laid down His life for us. With a heart of gratitude, let us make the choice today to choose God’s plans and purposes over our own—choices that may save a life that was destined for spiritual death, or that may bring deliverance or hope in situations that seem impossible. Choices that are greater than our own lives whether we always see that or not. Life Choices.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your example through Esther that You do not need us to accomplish Your purposes on earth, but You give us the privilege and reward of participating. O Father, show us how to be more effective as the time runs short for our contributions to Your kingdom. Show us what is hindering effective prayer, effective evangelism, and effective discipleship. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
In January, Free Chapel will embark on a time of fasting and prayer to start the new year. Now is a good time to review how you have spent your time, talents, and resources in 2025 and how God is leading you for 2026. We all have responsibilities, and deliberate planning helps us be cheerful in our service and giving and also helps us to be clear-minded, not be confused or guilty, when many requests come our way.
Resources
- Happy Thanksgiving! May the Lord bless you and remind you that your life, your choices, and your obedience are making an eternal difference. As we pause today to celebrate Thanksgiving, may your heart be filled with gratitude for the goodness and faithfulness of God throughout this year.