You Are Needed. (Who Am I: Part 2)

Whether you have read the entirety of the Old Testament or not (and most haven't), you still are likely to be familiar with some Old Testament characters.  Individuals like Abraham, Moses, David, even Solomon are reasonably well known.  We know a good bit about their stories even if we aren't Old Testament scholars.  Their lives were impactful, which is to say, they made a difference on many of the people around them--a positive difference.  They were hardly perfect people but they lived their lives with a sense of "calling";  they knew that they had specific things that they were "called out" to do.  In a very real sense they knew that they were "needed".

The Old Testament  also contains some stories about some individuals who are not very well known, but who also lived out some very impactful lives.  One of those people is Esther, of the book of Esther.  Her story in brief is this:

Esther, a young Jewish girl, is chosen by Xerxes, king of Persia, to be his new wife.  Haman, a high ranking official in Xerxes court, hates the Jews living in Persia, and is determined to annihilate them.  He has Xerxes agree to the edict that the Jews will be killed on a certain date.  Mordecai, a family member of Esther, learns of the plot, informs Esther, and begs her to approach the king to save the Jewish people.  Esther balks at this.  If she approaches the king without him summoning her, she risks her life.  Mordecai then says, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family's family will perish.  But who knows that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"  Esther 4:14.

"For such a time as this."  Mordecai is saying to her, "this is your time, this is your calling, you are needed here."  I won't spoil the story by revealing the ending.  If you haven't read it for a while, go read it again.  It's a great story!

Christ pointed out early in His ministry when He delivered the sermon on the mount that, "You are the light of the world." Matt 5: 14.  He didn't say, "You could be the light of the world", or "You might possibly be (if you work at it) the light of the world," He said "You ARE the light of the world."  In other words, you have been given everything that you need to be light for the world.  He went on to say, "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."  Matt 5:16.  In other words, "You are needed.   Now is your time.  Go do those things that only you can do."

But we forget that.  The days get long, the years get long, we get old, we get tired or interested in other things, and we forget that "we are needed."  We are needed to accomplish the things that are right in front of us.  They may not be particularly

exciting or glamorous but they are right in front of us and we are the only people who can accomplish them.

You are the light of the world.  You are needed!  It's who you are.