"For Such a Time as This"

Our church family is getting ready for a Valentine's Day Spaghetti Dinner. One of the activities for this evening will be to view a film on the life of Queen Esther: "One Night with the King".

In preparation for this movie, I am encouraging our people to read through the Biblical book of Esther. That way they can ferret out the truth from the parts that have been added to this movie "to make it more interesting".

I don't believe that this important story has been inhanced by the additions to the book, because the book of Esther in the Bible is very interesting. It moves rapidly and truthfully; and it has been celebrated for thousands of years by Jews during the annual feast of Purim.

The main point of this historical event was given by Esther's uncle, Mordecai: "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NIV)

My concern, today, is that most of us - believers in the Messiah, Jesus Christ - do not understand why God has placed us in this world, at this time in history, and in the place where we live. We, also have been sent here by God "for such a time as this"!

At my ordination council, an older pastor asked me if I had the choice to live at any time of history, what would that time be?  My youthful answer was, God chose to place me on this earth - at this time - and this is the time when I prefer to be alive.

I still believe that.  Do you? I don't want to discuss politics at this point, except to tell you that every believer in Jesus Christ has a strategic place in God's plan. We are on this earth, at this time, in the place where we are, with the mental, physical, and spiritual capacity we have, and the spiritual gifts God has given to us for such a time as this!

Our God has been convicting and convincing me that, as the pastor of a small church, in a small community, and at my age, I have a very important place and task to fulfill. My task is to keep in touch with Him, to see what He is doing, and to choose to join Him.

Will you join me in this life-long goal?  I'm praying that you will. I'm especially concerned that young people accept this challenge.

May our God direct you, gift you, and provide the means you need to fulfill your role in "such a time as this"!

"Carest Thou not That We Perish?"

This has been a real week for our world, hasn't it? Earthquakes, deaths, hunger, anger, hope, love, hate, courage, fear.

The responses from believers in Jesus Christ is a mixture of love, frustration, carelessness and even selfishness.

God is continuing to work on my heart regarding my view of my place in this world.

When I was saved by Jesus Christ, God didn't take me directly to heaven.
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I admit I haven't always given the glory to God, and have used His gifts to me, wastefully, and sometimes not even at all!

This morning, our Men@Arby's Bible Study group began a book called The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S. We only read the introduction, and already thoughts of conviction, hope, frustration and ideas have been running through our minds.

Like the author, Richard Stearns, I'm not perfect, but I'm hopeful. I hope to learn how to "live out your faith in public", and "be the "good news", from God's Word to us.

I encourage you to read this book, with a group of believers, and take the time to pray, discuss, and plan about what the book is teaching us.