Thursday: For Such a Time as This
Daily Lesson for Thursday 12th of June 2025
There is an unfortunate tendency among some Christians to dwell on the hard things of Bible prophecy. We see that trying times lie ahead, and the study of prophecy can become fear-based, focusing on hardship instead of the promised resolution to the story. While God does not sugarcoat the future, and He is honest about the events that will transpire between now and the close of the great controversy, it is important always to read the story to the end.
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There is a general pattern in prophecy in which God reveals the truth about the mess created by our human rebellion, and He shows us the consequences. But then He always holds out hope. Some have looked at the predictions of a final crisis—the “time of Jacob’s trouble”—with fear and trembling. Undoubtedly, the closing moments will not be easy ones for God’s people. But just as the prediction of hard times is reliable, so is the promise of deliverance.
In Revelation 12:1-17, the devil pursues Christ’s bride with hateful vengeance, but God intervenes to save her. The story of Esther also has a beautiful queen playing a central role in the drama, and God uses her powerfully to save His people.
Read Esther 4:13-14; Esther 5:1-3; and Esther 9:20-28. What lessons can we draw from these passages regarding our plight in the closing moments of earth’s history?
God raised up His remnant church for a specific moment in history. As the 1,260 days of the Dark Ages drew to a close, God brought His bride out of hiding (compare with Revelation 12:14) to carry His final message of mercy—the three angels’ messages—to the world. We are here “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
Esther discovered she was not alone in facing the persecution being unleashed on her people by Haman: she found favor from the king, and her people were ultimately delivered. Neither are we alone as we enter the final moments of earth’s history—the King is on our side, and God’s people will be delivered, as well.
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Things worked out well, at least in this story, for God’s people. It doesn’t always happen that way, though, does it? Why, then, must we always take a long-term view of things in order to maintain the hope that we have in Christ? |
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In the face of insurmountable odds, Esther demonstrates faith by deciding to obey God who placed her in the position of queen for a purpose. Courageously, despite the risk to her own life, she obeys God despite taking a huge gamble on her own life!
Many a times Christians often see this verse as a motivational statement of some sorts , but the truth is that God puts us into positions and situations for His purposes.
Esther like many other people in the bible found out that God placed her there purposely at such a time. Elijah in the northern Kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 18), Naaman’s servant girl (2 Kings 5), and Daniel in the courts of Babylon (Daniel 2). The Lord placed these people in these positions and does the same for believers today.
However, like Esther, we have a choice to work within God’s plan. Mordecai reminded his cousin that if she refused to act, “relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish” (Esther 4:14). Therefore the Lord has divinely placed us in our stations of work, professions, places of residence and assignments that need us to acknowledge that the Lord has given us those unique opportunities at such a time hence need to act boldly, obediently and faithfully in such situations.
My thoughts exactly!
Amen, amen.
Amen. It reminds me of the testimony of Pastor William Earnhardt in his article this week: Your Career Doesn't Define You. He shares about, when he was younger, he felt that he was "spinning his wheels" as a warehouse deliveryman, as it was not his intended career. Still, he ministered where he was by befriending a co-worker - a friendship that would last a lifetime. After the death of his aged friend, the friend's sister told Pastor Earhardt that his friend had considered him his personal pastor. Pastor Earnhardt shares: "I hope my story has opened your eyes to ways God can use and is using you where you are today. Too often, we spend our time longing to reach a life goal, not realizing that God is already using us for a purpose, every step of the way. Even if you become president of your country, that will not define you. Your whole life has purpose. Your entire life defines you."
I would also encourage those who feel similarly to be still, mindful, faithful and purposeful in life's quiet, 'mundane' moments. For God, in wisdom, uses them as times of preparation. For teaching us. Establishing us. Fortifying us. For when He might use us at such a time He needs us.
I envision Moses in the wilderness of Midian for 40 years, caring for sheep. Brushing and trimming feet/hooves. For FORTY YEARS. Moses had no idea the bush wouldn't burn. And that, in our Father's time, He would use Moses' knowledge of wilderness living to guide the children of Israel, through wilderness survival, on their journey home.
We live to bring glory to God and to bless His kingdom. Our life's purpose may be grand or seemingly simple. It may be just to raise our son or daughter. After all, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s mother had no idea. Charles Stanley's mother (who was a single parent) had no idea. Mundane moments matter. Whatever we are called to do in life- wherever we find ourselves, let us do it all to the glory of God, expecting to honor Him, however He needs us. Whenever He needs us.
Tony Dungy (former coach of the Indianapolis Colts) shares about his discouragement, having desired a head coaching position for a long time, but having had no opportunity. Partly, he believed, because of discrimination and because Dungy stood by his Christian values and wouldn't be harsh to players. His wife encouraged him to do his best wherever he was. Eventually, an opportunity came.
His wife's advice gets to the heart of the matter. In human terms, it's the stuff of legacy. Of honor. Our efforts to do right, and to do our best. When no one's watching. When there's no apparent reward. It's: "If you're a street-sweeper, sweep streets as best you can."
On a spiritual level, it's even more profound. We have no idea of how we might best glorify God. Or bless His kingdom. Being faithful in life's mundane prepares us - like Moses, like Dungy - if God needs us on a larger stage, for such a time as He may.
Ellen White shares:
Another version conveys the same principle:
God is with us. He's preparing us. All to His glory.
I was just listening to a devotional that included the story of the little maid servant girl who in the house of the Syrian general Naaman suggested to her mistress that through the prophet Elisha in Israel God could heal Naaman of his leprosy. That humble witness resulted in a story that has been a spiritual encouragement to millions of people for thousands of years and was spoken of by Jesus himself.
Esther found herself in the right place, at the right time, and she did the right thing. God’s divine providence provides each one of us with personal responsibilities, privileges and opportunities to make a difference in other peoples lives. I profoundly believe that God’s divine providence to individual persons should be a blessing to others. God wants us to be a conduit of blessings to others. We ought to be vessels in God’s hands to accomplish His divine purpose. If we fail to act when God’s divine providence falls on us, we will miss our divine assignment. Our blessings are not a random chance. Our position, influence, opportunities, career, and life are all given to us for a higher purpose.
The story of Esther is a clarion call to each one of us to recognize the purpose of our calling. Yes, we might not be a queen or a king, but we are a mighty force in the hands of God for a higher purpose.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)
In this story, Esther finds herself in a rather precarious position. Her nation is threatened with extinction, and she finds she knows the protagonist on a first-name basis, but he does not know her relationship to the people he wants to destroy. And then she hears those fateful words from her mentor.
We may live in rather turbulent times but we can hardly say we are under threat of extinction. Or are we? Maybe we Christians are under the threat of being considered irrelevant by some and ignored by others. That in itself can lead to the same result: extinction. And if we are honest with ourselves, the “ignore” strategy is working very successfully.
If we are waiting for a time of persecution to hear the call, “Who knows whether we are here for such a time as this?”, maybe we should ask ourselves if it is time to procure a set of spiritual hearing aids. The current weapons may be different, but the battle intention is still the same. God’s people are under attack. We may not have influence or even access to the courts of kings, but that does not absolve us from making a difference within our own horizon now.
Things worked out for God’s people in Esther’s time, but that’s not always the case in this life. That’s why we must take a long-term view—God’s promises extend beyond our present circumstances. Our true hope lies in eternal life and Christ’s return, when all wrongs will be made right. Even when justice seems delayed, faith reminds us that God is in control and His timing is perfect. Looking beyond today helps us stay anchored in hope, trusting that God is always working for our good. Like Esther, we may not see the full picture now, but we live with the assurance that God's greatest victory—our salvation—has already been won through Christ (Romans 8:28).
I have always found this experience of Queen Esther thrilling and realize “our” time is soon to come. Rather than fear as we realize what lies before us, the awesomeness of the Heavenly reward will encompass everything we can ever imagine. May we be faithful to our divine “calling”.
Unfortunately, very few people are willing to suffer for their faith. And it may be possible that at the same time God protects His people, He allows them to suffer so that they can continue to be dependent on Him - is this a bad thing? That's Heaven's educational system.