Lifted By Grace

TEXT: Esther 2:17

"And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."

A GRAVE ERROR

Queen Vashti was a very beautiful woman. Her husband, the King of Persia and Media wanted to show off her extraordinary beauty to the people. She knew he was drunk and wanted to use her as sport. She refused the King's express command. It was a grave mistake. She lost her crown and was banished from King Xerxes presence for ever. God used her error to raise someone to quence the terror of a tyrant against his children. You will not make a mistake that will truncate your destiny and banish you from God's presence in Jesus name. The Lord will use the mistake of others to create opportunities for your upliftment in Jesus name.

DIVINE MERCY AND FAVOUR

Queen Vashti loss was Esther"s gain . She had zero claim to royalty. An orphan child living with an uncle as spoils of war in a foreign land. She was the least qualified for the position of a Queen. But God's unmerited favour spoke for her. The king did not limit his search for Vashti replacement to the royal houses, he organised a public beauty peagent. God's grace was working on her behalf. Mercy selected her, favour positioned her and grace proclaimed her as Queen. As her uncle Mordecai aptly said ,"..Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Est 4:14b).

Indeed, Esther was elevated and used by God as a deliverer for the people of Israel. Mercy will select you, favour will position you and grace will proclaim you as the deliverer of your family in Jesus name.

LIFTED BY GRACE

The word of God says: "... it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it...So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen." (Rom 9:16,18 NLT). It is God that chooses to show us mercy but we must prepare our hearts to receive the mercy of God. Esther listened and followed instructions given to her, she humbled herself before everyone and God lifted her and used her to deliver the Jews. Heb 4:16 says: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Jesus is the door to grace. Accept him as Lord and Saviour and obtain mercy and grace in time of your need.

PRAYER:

Father, choose me by your mercy, position me by your favour, proclaim me by your grace for upliftment in Jesus name.

CONFESSION:

I am what I am by the grace of God.

God bless you. Shalom.