As many of you know, last week the teens were up in Abingdon, VA on the Fall Retreat looking at how we are called to be Outsiders here in this world and what that really means. On Sunday morning we looked at Mordicai’s phrase to Esther when he tells her “Who knows but that you have come to royal
position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). The application for the lesson was a question that I want to pass on to you today. If our God is sovereign and we are his hands and feet, then what could God have placed us here for and been preparing you to do?

Some of us have personalities and skill sets that put us in the forefront, others of us prefer and excel behind the scenes. Some people have lived
through divorces, others cancer. Some have been blessed with resources, others with time. Some have been managers, others have been
planners and still others love to work within systems that are already in place. Some have raised children to be leaders, others have dealt with extremely strong willed children… and the question is… what could God have in store for you? We are all apart of His mission, we are all part of His body… so how is he wanting to use you? What has he prepared you for?

We all know we are not made to warm pews and we all want to hear him say “well done good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:23) but I know many people sit back and wait for God to call them to something instead of figuring out what they can do. The interesting thing about the story of Esther is that you never hear God calling anyone directly. Mordecai took it on himself to adopt Esther at a young age and raise her to have faith in God. Esther was taken to the palace and “won” the position of queen as a result of a sinful kings desires. Mordecai overheard the plot to kill the king and warned King Xerxes, he wasn’t forewarned in a dream, and when Haman’s plot was revealed to wipe out the Jews, Mordecai went to Esther because he chose to. Esther risked her life because she had faith in God, not because she had talked to God like Moses or tested him like Gideon did. Mordecai and Esther acted as a result of being able to. They were placed in a position and given the ability to act, and they did. They knew what had to be done and realized that they could do it, and so with their faith in God they did! So I ask you again to look at where God has placed you and what experiences you have… and act! See where God is working and join His mission with the gifts and abilities He has given you!

Striving alongside you for the prize,

Jay Cline