Pastor Bryan Walmer

All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. Esther 4:11-5:1

When we value things like power or comfort more than Jesus, we become sources of brokenness and struggle.

Esther may have exploited the system in order to increase her own comfort, safety, and power.

We value things like comfort more than Jesus and that causes us to treat others certain ways in our lives.

We can combat the brokenness that comes from valuing things like safety more than Jesus by:

Valuing others ahead of ourselves - Living for ourselves will cause us to become a source of brokenness in the world.

Pursuing God’s call over our comfort - even when it might cost us.