Should I or shouldn't I have?

It was a letter.  Words on paper.  Signed by families who love the Lord.

But it had sweeping, strong repercussions.  See, this letter asked the church to consider standing for God's truth.  The purpose was to bring to the forefront an issue that was divisive and hard, with generations of families who saw this as a challenge to their status quo.


Months later, the letter is still stirring up hearts and making people examine their hearts and their beliefs about Jesus, the authority of scripture and how to best be a church that proclaims to be rooted in the gospel.  Many feeling have been hurt by unkind words. Others are hurt by truth that can heal, but they see only the pain. Actions that were brought in love, for Christ Jesus and for each other, are perceived to be power plays.  Instead of talking to the "instigators," those with questions talk behind them.

It is with all of this on my mind that I flipped my Bible to Esther and started a Bible study on virtues, with prudence being the first one of the four we will examine.  The Time Warp Wife was starting an online study, and I was drawn to it. (Love her beautiful study pages, by the way!)


When she bravely approached her husband the king with her presence, Queen Esther was offered up to half of his kingdom twice, and she declined both times.  Esther did not get distracted from her purpose, which was to save her people.  She didn't run scared at the potential loss of her life by going to the king as an uninvited audience.  She didn't balk at the task and take fabulous wealth instead of posing the humble, yet audacious request to save God's people.  Esther stayed focused and did the job at hand.



Mordecai, Esther's cousin who raised her, alerted her to the scheme to kill God's people. He said to her, " For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV


How many of us are in our current positions for such a time as this? We are to be a light, a city on a hill. We must speak truth in love, for that is our purpose. To save people from certain death and bring them into the loving arms of Jesus Christ, the savior and redeemer. We bear our cross and risk everything - comfort, status quo, friendships - when God calls us to a time as this.


With fasting and prayer, we move prudently yet boldly as we trust that nothing we hold on to is more valuable that the one who holds us.