Esther 3:13; Esther 4:4-16
Knowing that we have a calling from God is one thing, but living it out is another. Esther reached a point in her life when fulfilling God’s plan became risky. The Lord had placed her in a position of influence, but using that power could cost her life.
Few are called to be rulers, but we have all been given places of influence to one degree or another. The Lord has placed you in your family, community, and church to fulfill His purposes for your life in this generation (Psalms 139:15-17). As long as you are breathing, He is still working out His will for you.
How should you respond to His calling? There are only two options: Cooperate by submitting to His plan, or resist Him. Eventually, every Christian is going to encounter a situation that tests his or her willingness to obey God. When that time comes, remember the lesson from Esther. Maybe you have been placed in a difficult situation “for such a time as this” (Est. 4:14)—to be an influence for Christ in our dark world.
Living in God’s calling may not be easy, but it is always worth the risk. Each step will reveal the faithfulness of our Lord, encouraging us to trust Him in the next opportunity He provides. As our faith grows, His perfect timing will become evident, and we’ll look with joy and expectation for what awaits us.
When Pentecost Came - Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses.
As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday and the birth of the church, there’s a very simple and plain truth, the manifest presence of the Holy Ghost makes a difference! Jesus taught the early disciples for more than three years. They were part of the greatest Bible school that ever existed, yet, He cautioned them and encouraged them not to depend on their own wisdom and strength. After His death and resurrection, Jesus told the disciples to go to Jerusalem and tarry until they were endued with power from on high! He promised that they would receive the Person of the Holy Spirit to carry out His plan to evangelize the world! After Pentecost, the Spirit brought them a new consciousness of the manifest presence of God. He empowered them, He anointed them, He gave them divine joy and peace. Before Pentecost, the disciples could only ask questions, after Pentecost, they stood in the authority of the Spirit and answered all of the questions! The indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost made a difference then, He’s still making a difference today! Let’s seek for a fresh impartation of the Holy Ghost!
A Father’s Influence - 1 Timothy 6:11-12, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” God designed fathers to be influential in our children's lives. As a Dad, we must take the lead role in training our sons and daughters in godliness. Children have impressionable minds, they will remember when they see us read our Bible, pray and gather together worshiping with other believers. This is necessary training at an early age. As they grow and gain a better understanding, they'll notice how we look to God and His word for answers to life's problems. When they see and hear us express our confidence that God has a plan for them, their own trust in Him will grow. Dad, our role of teaching and modeling godliness is critically important today, by submitting to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, we can watch our children develop a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ that will keep them and help them to train the generation following them.
Put Into Practice - Philippians 4:4-13
It’s not enough to acquire or retain information. We must also value and apply it. True learning changes our habits and character. Learning is making a clear connection between the truth and the practice of the truth. In the book of James 1:22-25, he says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” Hearing and knowing must always be followed by doing. Just as James recorded with great conviction, this is what Paul meant when he wrote to the Philippians: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”. Paul presented himself as a model to imitate, not in a prideful manner, but only as He followed Christ. He encouraged them as they sought to grow in obedience, that God would be with them, guiding and helping them along the way. His whole-hearted desire was for the church to learn and put these things into practice, having the assurance that through Christ Jesus, whatever they faced or went through, that they could overcome and do all things through Christ which strengthens them!
River of God -Ezekiel 47:1-9
In this vision, Ezekiel saw a river that flowed out of the city, everywhere the water flowed brought life and vitality, it brought healing and transformation. The impact of this water here is a type and shadow of the move of God’s Spirit, the presence of life-giving nourishment for spirit, soul, and body. Just as the river was critical to the restoration of life, so God’s spiritual river is equally critical to every believer. It renews and refreshes us! It brings forth healing and strength, it brings a lasting change to each of our lives! The water that flowed out of the city kept getting deeper and deeper. In the same way, the flow of God’s Spirit gets deeper for those who seek Him and walk with Him. As we study His Word, as we spend time in prayer we can go deeper, gaining more insight of who He is. Right now, the spirit of God is releasing His life giving water, there’s a river, it’s flowing, we can go as deep as we desire. My prayer today is that we become immersed, that we allow the refreshing presence of God to fill our lives, flowing in the power and presence of Almighty God!