"Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Have you ever thought of an age in which you might like to have lived? Was it the "good old days" -- a time when the world seemed more peaceful, when the pace of life was slower? Whether there ever was such a time is hardly debatable, for sin was always present.

Esther lived in a troubled age. Although she was a Jewess, she had become queen of the Medes and Persians. Wicked Haman hated her people and plotted their annihilation. Esther had a choice. She could cling to her crown, or she could try to help her people at great risk to herself. God had placed her into the kingdom for such a time as this and expected her to do His will.

It won't help to dream of a better age when there was less violence, more respect for God and His Word, no television, fewer leisure options, and less money to corrupt people. God wants us to live in the world as it is. There is no other one. He knows these times and He knows us better than we do. He put us here and made us what we are because He knows what is good for us and what good He can do through us in His kingdom.

PRAYER: God, help me to live this day as Your child, mindful of the opportunities to do Your will; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 36-38    Mark 4:1-20

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