Risk It – A Quote from James Dobson

And they told Mordecai what Esther had said.  Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.  For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.  And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:12-14

What does it matter if I get involved or not?  It matters greatly – it matters to your character!  Yes, it’s true that God has other ways to accomplish His objectives.  He has other people He can use.  He isn’t frustrated or restrained because you and I may be indifferent.  But when that happens, we are the losers.  When we have been called “for such as time as this,” how tragic it is if we don’t stand up in that hour.

There will be no celestial shout urging you to take a stand.  Nor will a flash of lightning awaken you in the midst of your slumber.  It doesn’t work like that, so don’t sit around waiting passively.  Numerous needs and issues surround us.  They summon us to stand up and be counted.  While we will not be able to respond to all of them, the solution is not to responde to none of them!  So let me ask you: What are you doing to stand up, to stand alone, to answer the call of God in this hour?  Allow me to spell out a few issues and needs worth considering.

Are you involve din helping dysfunctional families?  How about those who are homeless and hungry?  Or those who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol?  What do you do for the orphans and widows?  In “such a time as this,” what do you stand against and stand for?  Do you take a stand against pornography?  Do you support any part of the cause of the pro-life movement against abortion?  Where do you stand as it relates to the absence of masculinity, the whole extreme feminist movement?  What about the horror of sexual abuse that has become so rampant in our society?  Or prejudice against other races or nationalities?  What about the developmentally disabled?  This is an urgent hour of need.  Are you there, ready to be salt and light, in this hour?

Not until you believe one person can make a difference will you be willing to take a risk.  Quit being so careful about protecting your own back.  Stop worrying about what others will think.  You don’t answer to them.  You answer to Him.  He will help.  He will give you wisdom and courage.  You may be only one, buy you are one.  So, take a risk!