Connecting With the King
Scripture Reading — Esther 3:5-11; 4:1-14
Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
King Xerxes of ancient Persia was tricked into issuing a decree that all Jews in his kingdom were to be killed for being different. Though he didn’t know it, his queen, Esther, was also Jewish, so she had a death threat hanging over her. How would God work this out?
After fasting to seek God’s help, Esther dressed in her royal robes and boldly entered the king’s hall to petition the king. Her beauty and charm had captured the heart of the king to marry her; now she had to trust, in God’s strength, that the king would grant her a hearing even though she came without being summoned, potentially a capital offense.
The favor of God was on Esther as the king held out his scepter, sparing her life. The business at hand was dismissed, and Esther was invited into the presence of the king. She entered with the bearing of a queen and a bride. The king asked, “What is your request?”
Esther requested a banquet to engage the heart of the king, and she eventually pleaded for mercy for her people (see Esther 5). Through Esther’s boldness, God saved her and her people from destruction.
The church is the bride of Christ, and each one of us is dearly loved by the King of kings. We can overcome great obstacles as we lean on his favor to ask for his help with all our concerns. We know we can always look to him, our only hope, our Savior and Lord.
King Jesus, you are our only hope. Fill us with courage to trust and serve you faithfully. In your name we pray. Amen.
About the author — John Kuperus
Since he was young, John Kuperus has had a passion that everyone would know Jesus. Spreading the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) is very important to him. To be better equipped for missions, John attended Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applied these skills with marketplace evangelism in a business he started in Sussex, New Jersey. This calling continued to follow him, so John attended seminary and became a minister in the Christian Reformed Church, serving a church in Ontario for eight years. Currently he serves as a missionary for Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He witnesses Jesus changing lives as people walk out of the darkness into the light. John is married to Helen, and they have seven children.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!