Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

Esther 2:19-3:6 (NRSV)

When the virgins were being gathered together, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. Now Esther had not revealed her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. But the matter came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. When the affair was investigated and found to be so, both the men were hanged on the gallows. It was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him. And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance. Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” When they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would avail; for he had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance to him, Haman was infuriated. But he thought it beneath him to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, having been told who Mordecai’s people were, Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

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Reflect

When I read this passage from Esther, I think of the phrase, “being at the right place at the right time.” I can recall more than one story where being at the right place at the right time clearly made a big difference. The off-duty police officer who prevented a robbery, the nurse who witnessed an accident and stopped to help, and the bystander who noticed an oncoming vehicle and pulled a child out of the way are all examples.

Because Esther and Mordecai were in the right places, they were able to hear important information and share it with the people who needed to hear it. However, being at the right place wasn’t enough for them, and it is not enough for us. They had to act on the information and did so at great risk. Doing the right thing is just as important as being in the right place.

I believe we are often in situations where what we see or hear may give us an opportunity to do the right thing. It may be inconvenient, tedious, uncomfortable, challenging, or even frightening. However, doing the right thing is always what God is calling us to do.

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Pray

Lord, open our eyes to see the world around us. Open our ears to hear your voice calling us to act. Give us the faith to do what needs to be done, trusting you for the outcome. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Go with God.