Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity (Great Lives Series) by Charles Swindoll

Author:Charles Swindoll [Swindoll, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 1997-10-13T16:00:00+00:00

Esther 5:5

The king may rule the kingdom of Persia, and Haman may sign edicts with the king’s official seal, but it is the Lord who is in control of this entire situation. And in the nucleus of His divine plan, Esther becomes invincible.

Esther must have been sitting there thinking, Isn’t God great? I could have lost my head. Instead, here they are at this banquet I’ve prepared. The plan is working beautifully. What a surprise!

God is full of surprises. But it takes a sensitive spirit to see them, to be jolted by them. Too many Christians are lulled into languor. Some can warble all the Christian songs, and recite all the right Bible verses, and quote this preacher and that teacher, but their Christian lives, down deep inside, are jaded. Are you in that condition? When that happens, you become calloused and insensitive, and you’re in for a life of boredom and mediocrity. How tragic for that to happen! The walk of faith is designed to be a walk of adventure, filled with periodic and delightful surprises.

Some Christians become like the people who once greeted President Theodore Roosevelt at a gala ball. All of them said the same thing, smiled the same tired smile, repeating the right greetings by rote, talking with their mouths, not their heads or their hearts. Tired of shaking hands and smiling his big smile and responding with the usual inanities used at such occasions, Roosevelt did something absolutely outrageous. Convinced that no one was listening anyway, he began to greet the rest of his guests by saying with a smile, ”I murdered my grandmother this morning.” Everyone smiled vacuously and said things like: “Wonderful!” “Lovely!” “Keep up the good work!” One diplomat was listening, however. He leaned over and whispered in Roosevelt’s ear, “I’m sure she had it coming to her!”38

Empty Christian talk drives me up a wall when it is filled with clichés and bromides. Doesn’t nonsensical small talk make you want to throw up? Especially when you realize you have been guilty of it yourself. The more it goes on in our lives, the more the real Christian life is losing its zip.

With Esther, her walk with God was an exciting adventure. She stepped into the king’s presence because she had confidence in God. Esther planned a banquet because she trusted God to do the unexpected. Are you still open to the unexpected? Are you really waiting on the Lord to do His will?

Let’s say you’re single and you really want to be married. And you’re waiting on the Lord to do . . . what? Find you a mate? But are you ready for Him to say, “Surprise! You will find happiness in being single for the rest of your life”?

You may be married and having serious trouble with your mate. And so you wait on the Lord to take care of him. Take care of her. But during the waiting period the Lord says, “Surprise! We have to take care of you.

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