"Whatever your place in life, God can use you" August 14, 2022
Sunday, August 14th
Take5 Devotional today written by Pastor Curtis Johnson
Whatever your place in life, God can use you
Scripture to read today: Esther 9:29-31
So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance — to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation.
Esther 9:29-31
King Xerxes authorizes Mordecai to issue further decrees allowing the Jews to defend themselves and destroy any enemies who attack them on the day of the scheduled massacre. With that new decree, the Jews were successful in surviving the onslaught. Mordecai then institutes the Feast of Purim which were to be days of rejoicing following God’s reversal of the Persian plans.
The reign of Persia following King Xerxes experienced increasing rebellion and declining central authority. I guess he continued in his former ways seeking the advice from his palace eunuchs and advisors. King Xerxes never gained the most honored title his father and grandfather are known for. History will not recognize King Xerxes as “Xerxes the Great.”
While there is no mention of the name of God in the book of Esther, the Application Bible tells us that the Jews were unique in being the people of one God. A story about them was naturally a story about God, for even the name “Jew,” across the middle east, carried with it the connotation of one who worshipped Yahweh.
We can learn from the book of Esther that whatever your place in life, God can use you. Be open, available, and ready because God may call you to do something that stretches you beyond your comfort zone and blesses others beyond your imagination!