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Day 135, or May the 15th. We all have a key role to play. Our thoughts today come from

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Esther chapter 8, verses 16 and 17. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness

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and honour. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the King came,

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there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating.

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And now the big picture surrounding these verses. On the death of Haman, Mordecai is

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appointed as his replacement, and the Jewish nation is rescued. Despite the law that allowed

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the killing of Jews, and which was a law of the Medes and Persians, which could not be

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changed, God intervened. Another law was produced which permitted the Jews to arm themselves,

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and fight with impunity against any who would attack them. This saved the day, and the mass

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extermination that was planned was totally averted. Esther was the only one who could

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have helped in such a vital way from her unique position in the palace. Her faithful actions

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are celebrated with great joy every year in synagogues around the world, at the feast

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of Purim.

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And now today's action step. Looking back, Queen Esther now knew for certain that what

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Mordecai had said to her right at the beginning of her reign as Queen had been correct. She

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was truly born for such a time as this. It wasn't a fluke that she was in the palace

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when her fellow Jews were being threatened with extinction, and needed help from society's

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high places. God had made sure that he had someone in the right place at the right time.

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We all have, for such a time as this, moments, but we don't always allow God to use them.

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Are you enjoying your job at the moment? Why do you think God put you there? Are you enjoying

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your retirement? What do you think God has for you to do? Be sure you make the most of

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your opportunities today and in the coming months. I believe all of us are in unique

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positions in God's kingdom. Ask him what your key role is, then trust him to enable

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you to do it.