For Such a Time as This

The book of Esther in the old testament is a story that should open our eyes to the sovereignty and goodness of God. He sees the beginning of time, the end of time and all that is in between. Most importantly he sees the hearts of all people. He works his perfect will out as he uses people in fantastic ways. 

I'm not writing today's post as a teaching about The book of Esther but rather I'm using it as an example of how God works things together for our good. (Romans 8:28),  "²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose." I do encourage you to read the book of Esther on your own. To glean the insight of how God works in all situations.

This morning during my Bible time I began to think about my life and how God has used me. The Holy Spirit began to fill my mind with moments from my past. Don't get me wrong I have made a tremendous amount of mistakes. However, God turned what Satan meant for evil into good (Genesis 50:20). I'm not going to focus right now on the things that I did that were not good. I am going to put the spotlight on how God used a broken young woman to bring about eternal things. Just like all of the broken and flawed people that God chose to do his work through in the past (Moses, Gideon...). To this day he continues to use those of us that are imperfect to bring about his will.

One of the ways that God used me was to be a legacy changer in my family. I was such a young Christian and so unaware but he used me to share my faith with my family. First, my mom and my sisters and then my dad and my brother. All of them came to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and were baptized. It changed the trajectory of my family in an eternal way. I think about the hundreds and hundreds of people that I have shared Jesus with and how I know God is working in their lives and the lives that they've touched also..

The Holy Spirit kept bringing to my mind all of these little moments in my life where he used me to intercede for people. Moments that I don't even know how they worked out but I know that God used me and he is continuing the process. We cannot even fathom the breadth and depth of God's hand in the lives of Christians.

So many of us spend so much time dragging the past along with us, worrying about the future and thinking about how inadequate we are when we should be thinking about how God uses flawed people to his glory. It's not about us, it's about him working through us. His strength being implemented through our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). It's not about how we do anything. It's about him getting all the glory for working all of these Divine moments together for the glory of his name and the expansion of his eternal kingdom. What an honor it is that the God of the universes works through our imperfect lives to bring about eternal glories.

I want us to stop and think about how much of the past we drag along into the next day and how that burden weighs us down. How much worry about the future bears down on us each day because we invite it into our minds?? How much of our inner dialogue tells us that we're not worthy or that we are not important enough for God's work? How many thoughts do we entertain about being useless or not meant for great things? 

Surrendering our day to God and learning how to be present in the moment is freedom and blessing. Knowing that in the most unnoticed ways God is using us if we ask him to. Then, there will be those times when we know that he used us! We realize how much worth we have in him and what a privilege and honor it is to be used and to work beside the Lord of Lords. Sometimes, it's not about one big moment that God uses us. Although, that may be the case, we have to also acknowledge that he is using us all the time. I think back on times when I overheard a conversation in a store and I never forgot what one of those people said and what a profound influence it had on my life. I also recall moments of kindness that were shown to me that changed me as a person and I passed it forward. It says in Matthew 10:42, "And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” I've told this story before but my sister who lives in California was sitting in the backseat of their car on an extremely hot day with her handicap son. They were waiting for her husband who ran something into the store to return. Across the alley was a drinking water truck delivering water. The man brought over some bottles of water because he saw my sister sitting in the car. He did exactly what that scripture above says. My sister and I have never forgotten that act of kindness. We tell so many people about that and how amazing God is. He works through people to bless others. That's just one example. I have hundreds of those stories but I think you know what I'm talking about.

So, every one of us was knit together in our mother's womb and God knew us before we were even born (Psalm 139). He has a specific purpose for each of our lives. The Bible says when we draw near to God he draws near to us. Draw near to him today and invite him to work through you. There is someone out there who needs a cup of water. There are people who are so close to giving up and your one act of kindness can turn their life around. You can be a legacy breaker in your family, a person who takes the lead on a project when no one else will step up, a person who brings a smile and a good word with them as they go through their day. Making others feel seen and heard. The list goes on and on regarding how God can use you.

You were born for such a time as this. You are here for a reason and if you feel unsure about that, God invites you to draw near to him. Be sure that you have invited him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Ask him to forgive your sins and to move you forward into his purpose for your life. Spend time reading your Bible, getting connected with other Christians, doing Bible studies and devotionals etc. You were meant for something that has amazing eternal value because God created you. Go to him with boldness and confidence to find the reason why you're here on this earth for such a time as this. 

1st Corinthians chapter 13 reads, "If I speak in human and angelic tongues^* but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.^a

2And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.^b

3If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.^c

4^* Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated,^d

5it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,^e

6it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.^f

8^* Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

9For we know partially and we prophesy partially,

10but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

11When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things.

12At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.^g

13^* So faith, hope, love remain, these three;^h but the greatest of these is love.

Love=Charity

In 1st John 4:8&16 it says, "God is love." Just as it says in 1st Corinthians chapter 13, we can do acts of kindness but unless they're done in love, which means in the name of Jesus, they are nothing but a clanging symbol. 

Good deeds do not get eternal wings unless they are done in the name of Jesus.