You are Here for a Reason
”Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b
If you have not read the short Old Testament book of Esther recently, I urge you to do so. It is as intriguing as any drama novel. There is betrayal, romance, and plenty of political intrigue. The queen refuses to submit to the drunken leers of the Persian king’s advisors, and is banished by the king. The king then forces all of the young women of his kingdom into his harem to choose the next queen, including captured Jews who had been brought into the kingdom years earlier. One of the Jewish women (Esther) catches the king’s eye, and he makes her his queen. Meanwhile, one of the king’s advisors, who hates Esther’s uncle, has come up with a plan to kill him and all of the Jews in the kingdom. Esther’s uncle hears of the plan and asks Esther to intervene with the king.
However, Esther is concerned about the king’s strict rule, punishable by death, that no one (including her) can appear before him without an invitation. Her uncle then speaks the words of our text, reminding her that God had possibly placed her in her position for the specific purpose of saving the Jewish people from annihilation.
How about you? Why are you here today? Why are you at your specific job, in your specific neighborhood, shopping at a specific store, or sitting next to someone at a youth baseball or soccer game? Could it be that God has placed you at a specific place, at a specific time to proclaim His Word of comfort and encouragement to someone who desperately needs it? When those opportunities come before you, do not be like Esther who worried about the possible consequences, but recognize that God has put you there for a reason. By using God’s Words of comfort and encouragement, you may save a soul from eternal condemnation.
We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear;
And, often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
The Lutheran Hymnal 464:3