I love the story of Esther.

It’s one of my favorite books of the Bible. There’s so much depth found within its few short pages, not to mention the DRAMA! An ousted queen, a secret heritage, a murderous plot, a life-or-death decision. Esther’s tale is as juicy as any soap opera or as nail-biting as any “must-see-tv” show. (Wow–did I just date myself there or what?)

But I also love it because it contains one of my all-time favorite Bible verses. It’s most likely the most famous verse from her story and certainly in the top ten of most well-known verses from the entire Bible. You can find it in Esther 4:14:

“…And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (14b).

So good, right? I get goosebumps just reading it. The book of Esther is famous for “whispering the name of God,” as it is; this verse, I believe, practically screams it. It speaks to His sovereignty, His purpose and His plan, His ability to “work all things for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). I love this verse and the sheer weight of its meaning so much, I even have a shirt with its words scrawled across the front.

But that’s not what I want to talk about today.

Today, I want to talk about the sentence that comes before it.

The one that isn’t emblazoned across mugs, art prints, notebooks, and sweaters.

The one that isn’t so happy or chipper.

The one that carries a bit of a threat, a bit of a warning.

The one that reads: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish” (14a).

Oof.

No wonder this verse doesn’t get as much love.

Here, we find Mordecai speaking to Esther. In case you don’t know the story, Mordecai was Esther’s cousin, but he really acted like more of an uncle to her, offering advice and guidance as she navigated her way through King Xerxes’s court. He was trying to encourage her to intervene on behalf of her people, who had been ordered annihilated by a particularly nasty royal advisor named Haman. Esther was frightened to do so, for the punishment for approaching the king uninvited was death.

Her people were at risk. She was at risk. This felt like a no-win situation.

But still Mordecai encouraged her to intercede. So much so, his “encouragement” began to feel like a threat.

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.”

If you’ll allow me to summarize, he’s basically saying, “Look, I know you’re scared and you don’t want to do this. If you don’t, I know God’s going to take care of us anyway. But realize, if you don’t, it’s not going to be good for you.”

Seems a bit harsh. And I don’t know if he’s talking physical death, spiritual death, emotional death, etc. But it’s a scary thought. It was scary for Esther, and it should be scary for us.

As I mentioned earlier, God is sovereign. He has a plan, and He has a purpose, not only for you and I, but for the world at large. And, the awesome thing is, He invites you and I to be a part of it. Keep in mind, God can accomplish His will quite easily without our help. He doesn’t need us to do anything. In fact, He doesn’t need us period. And yet He chooses us. He allows us to participate in kingdom work through the direction of His Spirit, which nudges, whispers, and guides us to His will.

But have you ever said no?

I know I have. I know there have been moments where I have felt the Spirit leading me to do certain things, say certain things, or just be certain places…and I’ve said no. I’ve ignored His voice. I’ve made excuses. I’ve let fear, laziness, anxiety, or stubbornness direct me rather than Him.

I’ve said no.

And have you ever stopped to consider what happens when you say no? Have you ever truly thought that, whatever it was that God wanted to do through you was still accomplished…but that you missed out on being a part of it?

That the thing that God wanted you to do for someone else was just as much for you as it was for him/her?

And you missed it?

It’s a sobering thought.

Because, the truth is, kingdom work isn’t just about doing things for other people. It’s also about changing us from the inside out, transforming our hearts and minds to become more like Christ.

I’m not too self-important to believe that my “no” to something God tells me to do will have eternal consequences. It might, of course. But He might also just up and send someone else to do it, someone more open and willing to His call. And then I will have missed out on whatever it was God wanted to do in me, not just through me.

A part of me “perishes.” Not physically, more than likely, but spiritually for sure.

Because I chose disobedience. I chose sin. I chose death.

Is it any wonder this verse isn’t quite so popular?

But we still must consider it, friends. As you live your life, trusting in the God of Esther 14:4b, let’s not forget the warning of 14:4a. Let us stay alert and open, never missing opportunities to participate in the work God lays before us. Let us seize every chance He gives us to be a blessing and be blessed in return.

Let’s heed Mordecai’s words.

Let’s be Esthers.

Let’s say yes.