meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Esther takes the advantage

Esther 5:3 "What is it, Queen Esther?" the king asked her. "Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you."

Esther was a practical and strategic woman who became queen of Persia under the reign of Xerxes. She inhabits a time frame between the release of the Jews from exile by Cyrus in 550 B.C. and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls by Nehemiah in 450 B.C. Xerxes reigned from 486-465 B.C.

And while the Book of Esther does not overtly mention God, His presence is evident. Undoubtedly, books of this type, like Maccabees and others, demonstrate that without mentioning God by name He remains in the hearts of the Hebrews, and He protects them wherever they are.

God’s providential and sovereign nature saturates all existence so that nothing is truly apart from Him. In that context it becomes clear that God placed Esther where she might do the most good for her people.

So it is with each believer and nonbeliever today. God’s purpose overrides all other purpose!

The Book of life

Daniel 12:1 At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.

Daniel is referring to “these times” of great distress to all peoples and profound challenges to the Jewish people. Those whose names are in the Book of Life will not be those who are dead, but those who are alive at the time of the tribulation and will turn their faces to Christ as Messiah.

The times we are in are the “birthing pangs” for what is to be birthed … the advent of the antichrist.

We do not know the exact time, of course; only the father does. However, if the skies are dark and a wind is carrying the smell of rain, then it is pretty safe to assume a storm is coming. Prepare accordingly:

Prepare for the rapture. This is my urgent plea!