As we begin to look at Ester and her six influential attributes, (Willingness, Faith, Transparency, Persistence, A tad bit of Crazy, and Action.) I want you to understand that these were the 6 attributes that stood out to me in the months I spent studying her. When you read Esther you might just see 6 more attributes that will stand out to you. So you can say, “Yeah Mary, but what about_____?” and That My friends is what God is talking about in Isaiah when He states ,
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Willing? Really?
Yep That is EXACTLY what I mean! Yes I know she was kidnapped (against her will of course). So how on earth can I possibly say she was willing. Well heres the thing She had a choice, a hard choice. but it also seems like a small, seemingly insignificant choice. It was her choice to be willing, but will for what?
Ester was willing to:
- Listen -listen to wise counsel….the counsel of the king’s Eunuchs, who gave extra preparations to Esther because they saw something different in her.
- Listen to Mordecai’s advice both to say nothing about being a Jew and then when the time was right to say she was a Jew.
- Lay her life on the line when she approached the king.
- She had to be willing to wait, because God’s plan sometimes (ok often times does not look like what we think the plan should).She had to hold two banquets because God’s plan was bigger.
- Change, both her opinions and he plans. (Yeah I just said that-OUCH!!)
Esther 4:15-17
New International Version (NIV)
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Hebrews13:20-21
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen
Did you see that!!! In the Hebrews passage it says ” God WILL equip you with everything good for doing His will”. Wow!! what an amazing promise!
Now as I was studying out this passage we had the opportunity to go to a Newsboys concert back in April. and as we sang and danced and enjoyed the concert with church friends and our family, Micheal Tait said something that spoke right into what I had been studying.
We arenot called because we are gifted, we are gifted because we are called.
Esther was not trained to be a Persian Queen nor was she gifted in over-throwing evil plots to wipe out a genocide plot for an entire people group. We have people in this country who are highly trained in these areas. And here we find a teenaged girl who finds herself in just these circumstances. She was Called for such a time as this, but you can be called and not be willing.
BUT Willingness Works Two Ways!
However there is a negative side to willingness as well. And that comes in the form of what we are willing to let influence us.
Is it negative messages from music, TV or people OR do we feed ourselves negative messages. They usually start with I Can’t…..
BUT She ….
If only I….
Someday when I….
Those influences take the focus off God and put them on me. But it’s not about me.
Esther’s Influences
Mordecai is clearly the most influential person in Esther’s life He was willing to take in his orphan Niece. Esther could have chosen to let the Persian culture influence every part of her life. She could have also been the opposite of willing and chosen to be stubblorn, Digging in her heals saying “NOpEI’m not gonna do It Because…..” And we would not have blamed her. BUT I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have the book of Esther either.
Examples in Unwillingness
The closest Kinsman in Ruth Chapter 4 Said he wasn’t going to take Ruth because his own inheritance would be on the line. And yet HE CHOSE to lose out on a fantastic legacy of being in the line of Jesus.
Pharaoh admitted to sinning 2 different times. He knew the choices he was making were wrong and yet when he couldn’t have his own way because the plan had changed and he became angry. He then let his anger influence his decision making. His pride and his anger were his influences. Not even his advisors could change it. his mind!
So What’s It Gonna Be?
You and I have a choice too. Are we willing to be a Christ-like influence. Sacrificing our own desires, likes and dislikes, pet peeves , insecurities, hurt feelings, misunderstandings, discouragements, circumstances, ( I can keep going , and going and going). We let all these things influence us and in the end we are rendered ineffective because what ends up happening is those “things” start eating at us and before long we are rooted firmly in bitterness, anger, self doubt, discouragement, and completely focused on ourselves. And unfortunately we tend to think that we are hiding these things but in reality, the condition of our hearts are revealed through the words of our mouth,
Matthew 15:18 NIV
But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
That’s hard but when we let those negative influences into our lives we are willingly choosing to forfeit that being equipped by God to do his good work. We are essentially putting ourselves first whether we are protecting ourselves -like Esther could have . Thankfully she didn’t So what’s it gonna be ? Are you gonna be an Esther or that nameless dud in Ruth protecting HIS rights, HIS comfort, HIS whatever?
Let’s Chat: This is someone in Your Life who exemplifies Willingness to serve God with every ounce of who they are, sacrificing their safety, comfort, finances, and/ pride to make God Famous?
