I'm preaching on Esther this week at our all age service, and there are a number of things I think it teaches us - one of them, I've been thinking about quite a bit recently, being brave.
The story of Esther is a great one, as you will know she risks her own life to go before the king – knowing ultimately that it was the right thing to do.
Now I’ve never had to risk my own life in order to do what’s right – and truthfully I hope I never need to, but if I’m ever called to do so, I hope I’ll make the right decision.
There are people all around the world who do risk their lives every day for Jesus - and if you don't pray for them regularly, please do so. I can really encourage you to subscribe to Open Doors who will help you to know who to pray for particularly.
As I’ve said, I think the story of Esther also teaches us we need to move our of our comfort zones. To step out.
A couple of days ago I was on a tube in London and I really sensed God ask me to pray for an older man who was sat next to me.
Before you get the idea that this is a regular every day occurrence for me, I don’t do this very often. Also, because I'm human and not very obedient I spent a long time on the tube praying the man would either get off before I had chance, or that something else would happen – but the man stayed on the train with me right to my stop - all that happened as I prayed was that more and more people around us got off so in the end it was just me and him in the carriage.
In the end, I plucked up the courage and talked to him. He was a bit surprised, he wasn’t a Christian, but he did let me pray for him about something which was going on in his life.
I’ve no idea what will happen in that guys life next, but I also know I don’t need to worry - I have a close friend who became a Christian because three times in the same week random strangers came up to him and talked to him about God and prayed with him. Perhaps I was person number one or two for that old man.
Now I don’t share that story so you can bask in my braveness (is that even a word?) – it wasn’t especially brave, although it felt like it at the time. Equally, I could tell you a thousand stories where I haven't done what I should have done, and will probably be able to tell you another 1000 in a few years time – but this experience led me to realise that it’s OK to be brave, no one died. In telling you, I hoped it might encourage you as well.
The last thing I want to leave us with is why we do all this stuff in the first place. We’ve read that Esther was a queen who was willing to risk her life in order to save her people.
There was however a man who lived after Esther, Jesus – he was a king, but he wore a different sort of crown.
He is the King of all Kings, and He did die in order to save his people – we are the people He died for, the ones who have been saved.
Esther’s story hints at the story of Jesus, she like him, was willing to do what was right - regardless of the consequences. I know that I for one, need to be just a little bit more like them...
