Self-preservation.
Esther could not imagine how Mordecai could suggest to her to go to the King unsummoned to save her fellow Jews. The cost is too much. It could be the end of her. But then again, what if God gave her the crown as Persia’s queen for such a time as this?
Like Esther, I am guilty of self-preservation. I have felt fear for my own pride and my fleshly concerns. Why do I have to stand up for what is right? Why do I have to fight for what I believe in? The cost is too much. It could be the end of me. But then again, what if God placed me where I am right now for such a time as this.
Sometimes it seems unthinkable what we need to do for God’s kingdom, but we need to remember that what we have and what we are now are from Him. He died for us. That alone deserves not only our attention, but our obedience. There is nothing we can do that can ever repay what He did for us. It may seem like we are sacrificing for Him, but what are we sacrificing when we don’t really own anything? When even our lives, He bought with His blood.
Our existence is not a mere accident in this world that just happened out of nowhere. We have what we have and we are what we are for a greater purpose; a purpose beyond our desire to secure stability for our lives here on earth or the protection of our comforts; a purpose that is far greater than what we think is important in this world; a purpose that will ultimately bring glory to our Creator.
A purpose like Esther’s. And that is what makes you significant.