담대히 서라(STANDING BOLDLY)

💙 담대히 서라

 ✝  에스더 4:7 - 4:14

“ 네가 왕후의 자리를 얻은 것이 이 때를 위함이 아닌지 누가 알겠느냐 “[에스더 4:14]

일리노이주의 어느 작은 마을에는 가정 폭력이 그 지역 범죄의 40 퍼센트를 차지합니다. 그곳에 한 목회자에 따르면, 신앙 공동체 안에서는 그것에 대해 말하기가 쉽지 않기 때문에 그 문제가 숨겨진 경우가 많다고 합니다. 그래서 이곳 목회자들은 문제를 피하기보다는 믿음을 가지고 나서서 폭력의 징후를 인식하는 방법을 배우고 이 문제를 다루는 비영리단체를 지원하면서 이 문제를 용기 있게 다루기로 했습니다. 
한 목회자는 믿음과 실천의 힘에 대해 이렇게 말했습니다. “가시적인 지원과 함께 기도하며 긍휼을 베풀면 중요한 차이를 만들어낼 수 있습니다.”

바사의 왕후 에스더가 자기 민족의 학살을 정당화한 법에 대항하기를 주저하자, 에스더의 삼촌은 그녀가 계속 침묵한다면 그녀와 그녀의 가족도 살아남지 못하고 멸망할 것이라고 경고했습니다(에스더 4:13-14). 담대하게 일어서야 할 때임을 안 모르드개는 “네가 왕후의 자리를 얻은 것이 이 때를 위함이 아닌지 누가 알겠느냐”(14절)고 물었습니다. 

우리가 불의에 대항해 목소리를 내라는 부름을 받았든지, 고통을 준 사람을 용서하라는 부름을 받았든지, 성경은 우리가 어려운 상황에 있을 때 하나님이 결코 우리를 떠나거나 버리지 않으신다고 확실히 말씀합니다(히브리서 13:5-6). 
위협을 느끼는 순간에도 하나님을 바라보고 도움을 구하면 하나님은 “능력과 사랑과 절제하는 마음” 을 주셔서 끝까지 임무를 완성할 수 있도록 해 주실 것입니다(디모데후서 1:7)

---------------------------------------
하나님은 당신이 무엇을 하기를 원하십니까?그 부름에 응답하도록 당신에게 이미 주신 것들은 무엇입니까?

<하늘에 계신 아버지, 제 삶에 특별한 소명을 주셔서 감사합니다. 두려움을 극복하고 믿음으로 나아갈 수 있도록 도와주소서.>

************************
[에스더 4:7 - 4:14]
7. 모르드개가 자기가 당한 모든 일과 하만이 유다인을 멸하려고 왕의 금고에 바치기로 한 은의 정확한 액수를 하닥에게 말하고
8. 또 유다인을 진멸하라고 수산 궁에서 내린 조서 초본을 하닥에게 주어 에스더에게 보여 알게 하고 또 그에게 부탁하여 왕에게 나아가서 그 앞에서 자기 민족을 위하여 간절히 구하라 하니
9. 하닥이 돌아와 모르드개의 말을 에스더에게 알리매
10. 에스더가 하닥에게 이르되 너는 모르드개에게 전하기를
11. 왕의 신하들과 왕의 각 지방 백성이 다 알거니와 남녀를 막론하고 부름을 받지 아니하고 안뜰에 들어가서 왕에게 나가면 오직 죽이는 법이요 왕이 그 자에게 금 규를 내밀어야 살 것이라 이제 내가 부름을 입어 왕에게 나가지 못한 지가 이미 삼십 일이라 하라 하니라
12. 그가 에스더의 말을 모르드개에게 전하매
13. 모르드개가 그를 시켜 에스더에게 회답하되 너는 왕궁에 있으니 모든 유다인 중에 홀로 목숨을 건지리라 생각하지 말라
14. 이 때에 네가 만일 잠잠하여 말이 없으면 유다인은 다른 데로 말미암아 놓임과 구원을 얻으려니와 너와 네 아버지 집은 멸망하리라 네가 왕후의 자리를 얻은 것이 이 때를 위함이 아닌지 누가 알겠느냐 하니

---

💙 STANDING BOLDLY

 ✝  Esther 4:7 - 4:14 

"Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"[ ESTHER 4:14 ]

In a small Illinois town, domestic violence comprises 40 percent of all crimes in the community. According to a local pastor, this issue is often hidden in our faith communities because it’s uncomfortable to talk about. So instead of shying away from the problem, local ministers chose to exercise faith and courageously address the issue by taking classes to recognize the signs of violence and supporting nonprofit organizations working on the issue. Acknowledging the power of faith and action, a local minister said, “Our prayers and compassion, coupled with some tangible support, can make an important difference.”

When Esther, Queen of Persia, was hesitant to speak out against a law that authorized the genocide of her people, she was warned by her uncle that if she remained silent, she and her family wouldn’t escape but would perish (ESTHER 4:13–14). Knowing it was time to be bold and take a stand, Mordecai queried, “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (V. 14). 

Whether we are called to speak out against injustice or to forgive someone who’s caused us distress, the Bible assur es us that in challenging circumstances, God will never leave or forsake us (HEBREWS 13:5–6). When we look to God for help in moments where we feel intimidated, he’ll give us “power, love, and selfdiscipline” to see our assignment through to the end (2 TIMOTHY 1:7). -KIMYA LODER

------------------------------
What might God be asking you to do? What tools have you already been given to answer the call?

<Heavenly Father, thank You for placing a unique calling over my life.
Help me to overcome my fears and step out in faith.>

**************************
[Esther 4:7 - 4:14]
7. And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
8. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.
9. And Hathach came back and related Mordecai's words to Esther.
10. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him [to reply] to Mordecai:
11. "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days."
12. And they related Esther's words to Mordecai.
13. Then Mordecai told [them] to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews.
14. "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?