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Esther 7:3-4, Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king..”

Esther was risking her life by making the statement in today’s focus verses.  She has no idea how the king will react.  We know from previous chapters that he is prone to rash, angry decisions.  First, the king does not know that she is a Jew.  Second, Esther doesn’t know if the king will choose her over Haman, his trusted advisor.   If the king chooses to side with Haman, then Esther and her people will be killed.  But she must have courage and take the risk – the stakes are too high. 

God calls all of us to take risks.  Let’s hope our risks aren’t quite as scary as Esther’s but they might be!  The reality is that the Christian walk was never intended to be comfortable and easy.  The Holy Spirit is constantly prompting us to take risks:  go talk to that person, volunteer for that organization, reach out to that neighbor, offer to pray with that person over there, give money here…you get the idea.  The big question is are we listening and are we obeying?

Let’s pray…Lord, I want to take risks for you!  Give me courage and wisdom.  More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen.