https://odb.org/2024/03/12/stand-up
Queen Esther is one of the shining examples of someone who put her life at stake to save her people. It was in a way similar to the courage displayed by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel’s 3 friends) when facing King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, except that in Esther’s case, she had the choice to keep quiet and mind her own business. She could like most of us need not have taken the risk and step out in faith.
You may read the account in Esther 4:10-17, where she told Mordecai, her cousin who adopted her as his own daughter, that it is the law at the court of the Persian King Xerxes that anyone who approaches the King in the inner court without being summoned will be put to death unless the King extends the golden spectre and it has been 30 days since she was called. Modercai answered her somewhat prophetically that if she refrained from helping, it didn’t mean that she would escape the fate of the evil plot to exterminate the Jews (although the King didn’t know she was Jewish) and God would achieve His purpose some other way. After contemplating, she decided to intervene and approach the King. Her famous words were, “If I perish, I perish.”
Many believers have over the years since the days of the book of the Acts of the Apostles uttered similar words in their hearts of hearts. If I have to die for Christ, then so be it. From the martyrs put on stakes and burnt to death to those thrown into the ring to be devoured by wild beasts as entertainment for the Romans back in the day. To the many who were asked to recant their faith in Christ but refused and froze to death in the snowy winter night in China. One day, we, too, may be tested on our faith.
We may not be called to put our lives at stake for our faith in the present. However, there could be many instances when we may be called to stand with and for those facing injustice. Some may have been dealt with a cruel twist of fate, losing their loved ones to sickness and thus their sole means of survival. Will we stand in the gap if Christ prompts us? Or will we be tenpted to look the other way? Let’s pray for the courage to do the right thing in obedience to God’s voice in our hearts of hearts.
Ronnie's Thoughts 