How hopeless the world can seem at times. If we're not facing natural disasters, we are trying to cope with man-made disasters. Desolation can happen anytime and any place - sometimes accidentally or sometimes on purpose. Think about it, I could accidentally step on your foot. But at the same time, I can purposely step on you foot! Sometimes things happen in the world accidentally - factory explosions, traffic accidents. However there are things that happen purposefully like terrorism. People make it their mission to cause disaster and misery to others and they are passionate about it too!
I love something that Bob Marley was quoted saying, 'The people, who were trying to make this world worse... are not taking a day off. How can I? Light up the darkness'. If there are people who cause pain on purpose, will I bring joy purpose? Or I will I live passively and let whatever happens, happen, or will I live on purpose?
In response to all that is happening in his world we are to be zealous for good works and not lose hope- we are to rise & shine. I think of Esther as an example. We can go through life and fall into things by God's grace. We can not intend to be in places or be things, but life sometimes leads us there. We can see this in the life of Esther. After her parents died, she spent her early years being brought up by her uncle. Being a Jew, they were living in a foreign land away from their people. Interestingly, Esther soon found herself in the king's palace as the king was looking for a new queen and so sent a decree for his servants to find beautiful virgins. The woman who entered into the palace alongside Esther, were to go through a year of beauty preparations and await to see who the king chose to be his wife. Esther kept her identity hidden- nobody knew she was a Jew, she seemed to be going along with where life was taking her. But how long could she keep this a secret? Especially as the king had chosen her to be his wife! Esther continued to keep the secret hidden well...but life was going to take a sudden turn, a violent shaking, where Esther would have to make an important decision. One of the king's servants had been promoted and so the king had given him a lot of authority, so much so that he had the authority to make decisions. The problem was that this man carried bitterness in his heart and wanted to have all Jews killed! Remember that there was a Jew living in the palace....Esther. The servant's plan was soon made known to Esther and she had a decision to make. Keep her identity hidden or fight for the deliverance of her people. Esther was in two minds, but a word from her uncle seemed to change her mind. 'You may have been called for such a time as this.' Could it be that this was a good work that Esther was prepared for? Was she called for this time? Esther fights for the deliverance of her people and exposes her identity, as she trusts in God....and...the people were delivered!
I can so relate! We can passively go through life, forgetting that we have something to offer, forgetting that we have this treasure in earthen vessels, forgetting that the world is waiting for the beauty inside of us to be unveiled. Isaiah 60 reads
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
There is darkness in this world! But we are to arise, and shine like stars! Let His light shine from us! It is hard but Paul talks about fighting the good fight of faith, which makes me think that it is not something we can passively do. We have to be active in this walk of faith, knowing that everyday we have opportunities to shine our light and expect God to do great and mighty things through us. Besides He has good works prepared for us too! Could it be that He has called you for such a time as this?! Titus 2:14 says that we are to be zealous for good works. Passionate for good works. Just as I mentioned earlier, there are people who want to bring destruction, will we purposely build up our world, or continue to walk naively without understanding?
Like Esther and we are not to be passive but we are to live purposefully with understanding and wisdom and choose to walk in the good works thst He has prepared for us. He has good works prepared for you to walk in today, will you walk in them? You have treasure inside of you, let it shine :) Live...Love...Laugh on Purpose!
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