“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14 NKJV
To be honest, it has been a rough summer – if I’m really honest, it’s been rough for quite some time. I have shied away from public discussion regarding many issues (I can’t think of much worse than a debate over Facebook….. I never thought I’d actually wish for pictures of people’s dinners, but there it is. Tag me in that picture of your pork chops, okay?), but I have not shied away from personal discussions. Do not misunderstand – I have not sought out opportunity to discuss current topics, but I have not avoided subjects if they arose in reasonable conversation. I’ve been honest, and made effort to seek the Lord and speak wisdom, but….
Jesus said in Matthew 10:16-20, “ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you”. (NKJV, emphasis mine)
What you should speak. You should speak. I should speak.
I was also thinking about Esther, when a great evil was presented to her. Mordecai’s words inspired her to action, praise God, but there was most definitely opportunity in his speech for her to make an excuse and stay behind the scenes. Mordecai tells her that “relief and deliverance will arise from another place”. At that moment, Esther could have taken the path of least resistance and told herself: “Well, if God will deliver them anyway, why should I endanger myself? Why should I take a chance?” But don’t miss the most important phrase: “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time a this?” That’s where Esther stood up. That’s where she takes her place in the history that was unfolding around her. That’s where she accepted that call that God placed on her life. Thank You, Lord!
Jesus promises that there will be hardship. Jesus promises that men will persecute and punish. Jesus is honest and tells us, “You are like sheep among wolves, be careful.” However, being careful is not the same thing as being silent. Actually, we should be careful not to be silent.
Be encouraged – relief will come. God will rescue. Read the end – Jesus is the Victor and we win! At the same time, be encouraged – you were born for such a time as this. We are meant to be kind, we are meant to be honest, we are meant to be full of the love of Christ…. but we are not meant to be silent.
I still don’t think I’ll pursue the discussion, but I am asking the Lord to change my perspective. Mistakenly, I’ve viewed my reticence as merely avoiding conflict. I think that I’ve been wrong in that. It’s not enough to avoid conflict – I must speak peace and shine the light of the Gospel at every opportunity.
We never thought it would be easy, but here we are and it’s no surprise to the Lord, is it? Do not allow your light to be hidden. We are a city on a hill. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7). Father, thank You for trusting us with this treasure. Thank You further for opportunities to share it with the world.
I used 687 words and didn’t really say anything, did I? I know I’m “preaching to the choir” here. Fill in the blanks with any current issue that breaks your heart, and ask the Father to direct you. When He speaks, it is a treasure, isn’t it?
Praying you have opportunities to share your treasure in such a time as this,
Pastor Jennifer Spivey, Peoples Church Winter Haven