For Such a Time as This

For Such a Time as This

Good Morning Friends, 

Edmond Burke said that, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Maybe he was thinking of women as well. Dante said that, “The hottest regions of Hell are reserved for those who do nothing at a time of great need.” Maybe we experience a little hell on earth when we fail to pray into situations of injustice. With this in mind today we connect the victorious story of Esther and our need to pray moment by moment to prepare us to discern a purposeful response For Such a Time as This. 

Scripture: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

 James 4:17 (NAS)

“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law–all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.” When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.  For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”  Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”  Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Esther 4:11-17 (NRSV)

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Proverbs 29:2 (NIV)

Message: Yesterday I had lunch with a small group to hear a pastor from Nigeria. His parishioners call him “Daddy.” He lives in a country with 250 languages, 500 ethnic groups and 160 million people. It is the seventh most populous country in the world in a space a little smaller than the state of Texas. It is roughly equally divided between Christians, living in the wealthier South and Muslims, living in the poorer North with complicated tribal histories. It is a country with vast natural resources. Interestingly, the Nigerian Pastor remembers a time when Muslims and Christians got along. Now things are more difficult. Recently one of his church building in the center of the country had been blown up by radical Muslims. Now state security policies prohibit people from driving to church. They must park their cars and walk a distance for safety. He explained that the radicals stated agenda is to push Christians South so they can create sections of the country having Sharia Law. People die in the process. Christian have been killed in sections of the North simply for being Christians. Where Sharia law is instituted non-Muslims, he says, become second class citizens. He would know firsthand. The situation reminds me of what we read about in The Book of Esther. Here it speaks about a time of laws being created to limit specific people’s human rights. But as much as it is about living in a specific time, it is also about living in the moment. Leaving the past behind and not being afraid of the future. For me this sounds a lot like prayer before the King. Friends there is a strong relationship between being in God’s purpose and in praying. Here we are to not hurry, scurry or worry. Here being in the now, we can focus on loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves….even loving our enemies. Maybe it calls for a tough love. Friends, maybe it is a good time to pray for the Esthers of this world who are willing to speak the truth with love into such a time as this.

Pray for busy people. Pray for the irreplaceable gift of this day. Pray that we rejoice in each moment in prayer unceasing. Pray we focus on opportunities to bring reconciliation to the brokenness of our world. Pray we lead with love. Pray God empower women in places of injustice to speak into the situation with a prayer that speaks to God’s presence and purpose in each moment.

Blessings,

John Lawson