Dear Beloved, SUCH A TIME AS THIS "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Est. 4:14, NIV) She was an orphan brought up by her cousin in the land of captivity. She had favor with everyone she came across. She later became the queen in that land of captivity. However, in such a time as this, she was reluctant to use her position to save her people. The woman was Hadassah popularly known as Queen Esther. Mordecai – one of the captives of Judah – brought her up. By divine favor, she became the queen of King Xerxes of Persia. In obedient to her cousin, she did not reveal her identity. A plot was planned to annihilate her people the Jews. Mordecai, her cousin came to her for the rescue of the Jews. She was reluctant to interfere in this matter because of the protocol of the palace. Mordecai then challenged her that she should not think that she was saved in the palace for she could not say whether God put her in that royal position in such a time as this. Queen Esther reacted with one of those remarkable statements in the Bible, "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. AND IF I PERISH, I PERISH" (Est. 4:16, NIV). After the fasting (and possibly prayer), Esther wet to the king and reported the matter to him. As God would have it, the Jews were delivered by the good position of Esther. God placed Esther in that royal position in such a time as this so that He would continue His redemptive act through the Jewish race. God has placed many people in one position or the other for a particular purpose. Do you know why you are in the position that you are presently? What do God and people around you expect of you in that position? Who knows whether you have come to that position for such a time as this? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). _________________________ Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.afolabayo.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV). _________________________________________________ FindLaw - Free Case Law, Jobs, Library, Community http://www.FindLaw.com Get your FREE @JUSTICE.COM email! http://mail.Justice.com