You my feel like a nobody in a large organization,
thinking that you cannot really make a difference as a secretary,
a kindergarten teacher or an account assistant. A secretary
actually has tremendous power. She can endear or endanger
her boss to the other staff, clients and customers. She can
influence her boss' decisions, especially in relation to staff
assessment. She may be ordinary but very influential.
One Person Can Make A Difference!
History is full of accounts of - individuals who made a difference,
We think of military battles that had been won because of
one heroic person. The contribution of one person - an artist
like Michelangelo, a musician like Beethoven, a scientist
like Einstein, an inventor like Thomas Edison, an explorer
like Christopher Columbus, and a technological entrepreneur
like Bill Gates - can enrich the lives of many. Through the
centuries, there were also courageous men and women of God
who stood alone in the gap and made a difference- The face
of the Church was changed by significant individuals - Augustine,
Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and Graham, to name only a few.
On the other hand, one person can also bring about destruction
to society. Osama bin Laden is perhaps a modern example of
an individual who has crippled countries, grounded reputable
airlines, orchestrated social disorder, wrecked global economy,
and deprived thousands of jobs.
In Esther's story, in the Old Testament, Haman was the antagonist.
Wicked Haman was a self-absorbed anti-Semitic power-grabber,
His prejudice turned to anger. His anger fanned the fire of
hatred, resulting finally in a murderous plot.
We have the choice to make a difference between good and evil.
Esther chose the good. Amazingly, she was very ordinary -
an orphan, an obscure young woman living in exile under cruel
rule. This is the beautiful message of Esther; everyone can
be used by God, no matter how crushed she is, no matter how
discolored her past may be, no matter how deep her scars may
be.
There Can be No Impact without Involvement.
If we want to make an impact in life, we must be involved.
When Mordecai, Esther's caring uncle, heard about Haman's
plot to kill the Jews, he got involved. He grieved deeply
and moaned loudly. His passion moved him into action. And
he quickly sought to involve Esther and encouraged her to
plead before the King. However, Esther was hesitant and fearful
as she could not simply enter the king's presence without
being first summoned. Mordecai's response was astounding when
he said, 'Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can
escape any more than all the Jews, For if you remain silent
at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews
from another place and you and your father's house will perish.
And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such
a time as this?'
Three Perspectives about Involvement
From his words, we learn three perspectives about involvement.
Firstly, we will not escape the consequences even if we do
nothing.
Secondly, God will use someone else if we are not involved.
He is not limited to any person to do His will. God's sovereign
plan will not be thwarted.
And thirdly, it will be a great thing for us if we choose
to be involved.
Mordecai challenged Esther to involvement because God had
placed her in royal status for 'such a time as this.' We are
strategically placed in our workplace, family, or church for
a purpose.
We should Invest Beyond Ourselves.
For the believer, involvement itself is not enough. We must
be involved in something beyond ourselves. Nothing else will
do. Esther's involvement was to throw herself into God's agenda,
God's kingdom and God's people. Her involvement was total.
She put her life on the line. Her finest phrase was, 'If I
perish, I perish.'
Total involvement is costly. Standing against the tide of
the world may cost us. Esther summoned her people to fast,
showing her dependency on God. She began to plan and then
put it into action. It was an integrated approach. Sometimes,
we make the mistake of dichotomizing the spiritual from the
secular, the Spirit from the Word, the exuberance from the
silence, the prayer from the plan, the healing from the counseling.
Believers must do both. God has endowed us with both heart
and mind, spirit and body. Our involvement must be total and
holistic.
You and I may just be ordinary people but we can assert an
extraordinary impact for God in our society.
"Before I was born the Lord
called me, ...and said to me, "You are my servant, in
whom I will display My splendour." (Isaiah 49:1-3).
Be Encouraged.
A.Othniel.
