Doing The Right Thing

Scripture:

Esth. 4:16 “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.”

Observation:

The Jewish people were being threatened by Haman and his attempt to purge them from the country. Queen Esther was willing to stand up for her people so that they might be saved. She saw the injustice of Haman’s actions and believed that something had to be done to save her people. She called for a fast and although the language is not there, you would hear in her words a desire for prayer and fasting, lifting up the situation for God and his intercession.

At the same time Esther knew that action was required on her part and she would have to try to have an audience with the king. She knew the consequences of stepping into the king’s presence. Esther was, after all, the replacement of a Queen who had embarrassed the king. But she knew trying to save her people was the right thing to do. Knowing that the right thing could result in losing everything that she had, she put it all on the line, fasted and prayed and then stepped out to make a difference.

Application:

Esther could have easily played it safe in life. She had everything provided for her and seemed to have the approval of the King. Why stick her neck out for other people? Because it was the right thing to do!

We may not find ourselves in a palace like Esther, but we may find ourselves in a similar circumstance. Speaking up against injustices is not an easy thing to do because it makes those who have power uncomfortable. Esther was not just pointing out something that was wrong, she was suggesting that something would need to be done about it, threatening Haman’s place and position in the kingdom. If Esther had not spoken up probably nothing would have happened to her, but all of the Jews may have perished. She was willing to give up her life for others.

Throughout history there have been far too many times when the Church has kept silent in the wake of evil. We have refused to speak up and do the right thing because we wanted to play it safe. Jesus never played it safe. He spoke the Truth and there were plenty of times that it infuriated those listening, for his words were very convicting. We must be transparent before the Lord and allow him to look into every crevice of our being, cleaning us up on a daily basis so that we can shine with the reflection of Christ. What would Christ do in the face of injustice? He is the great Shepherd, the one who has already laid down his life for the flock. We are to go and do likewise. It’s never about playing it safe and saving our ourselves.

When we are passionately in love with God we love our world and we cannot love our world without responding as Christ did. In the face of injustice, we must do the right thing. This is the response of the sanctified One living and working through you and me. And if we perish, we perish!

Prayer:

Lord, please help me daily to do the right thing as you lead.  Amen.