Esther - I Perish

Study Notes

I Perish

Reluctant Obedience: 2/16/2020

Esther 4:1-17

Opening Story:

Harriet Movie

Point/ Transition:

What allows for courage in the face of horror?  What allows Harriet Tubman to risk her life over and over again for the sake and freedom of others?  Where does this kind of will come from?  Surely many sensed the need, but how does need move into action?

Today, as we look at another strong woman and Godly example in Esther, I pray we can connect to her story, her actions, her progression to obedience and somehow find the will and courage ourselves for this kind of obedience in our time, in our world.  For we still need it, because we to have been put in position “for such a time as this”.

Scripture:

Esther 4:1-17

¹When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. ² But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. ³ In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

⁴ When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. ⁵ Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

⁶ So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. ⁷ Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. ⁸ He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

⁹ Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. ¹⁰ Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, ¹¹ “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.”

¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ 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?”

¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “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.”

¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD

YOU MAY BE SEATED

Sermon Body

First, some context:

The book of Esther is a soap opera.  For anyone in this room or in your life who thinks the Bible is boring, have the read Esther.  Let me give you the major headlines that lead up to our text.  First, this book takes place about 100 years after the Babylonian exile.  While many Jews did return, many did not.  Esther is a book with a group of Jews who did not return and are living in Susa, the capital city of the ancient Persian Empire.  The major characters are:

• King Xerxes: a wild leader, King of Persia
• Haman, the Villain
• Mordecai, Jewish Uncle to Esther
• Esther, Niece

Summary of Chapter 1-3

• Chapter 1 and 2: King throwing 2 banquet feats in his own honor for 187 days.- to show off his greatness
• Last day of the banquet, the King is really drunk and demands his wife to show off her beauty to the party; parade her out for all to lust after
• She refuses, and is disposed of – and the King makes a declaration that all Persian men to be the masters of their own homes.
• He then holds a beauty pageant to find a new wife
• Enter Esther and Mordecai
• Esther hides her Jewish identity and wins the contest
• King is so into her, he elevates her to become the new Queen of Persia
• At the same time, Mordecai overhears people plot to kill the King, he tells Esther, who tells the King and Mordecai is given credit for saving the King
• Chapter 3: Haman Promoted by the King and it is demanded that all people bow before him
• Mordecai refuses, Haman is furious and when he finds out that Mordecai is Jewish
• Haman convinces the King to issue a decree to kill all Jewish people, they roll a dye to find out when the massacre will happen… the dye: PUR…

With the death of his people certain… we come to our text today:

We are going to walk through this text through the character and action of Esther.  When we look through these 17 verses, there are 3 distinct actions that capture the journey, the progression that Esther was on.

• Esther Saw and Sent (4:1-5)

For a moment, we need to back up the previous 3 chapters to see what is going on, to understand why Mordecai is grieving. 

• Mordecai is publicly grieving the almost certain genocide of the Jewish people in Susa. Sackcloth and Ashes (more next week, public grieving – and at the gate was a way of registering the grief, ancient protest of sorts.
• Could not come past the gate = not my problem

• Esther saw past the gate. Not only that she saw, she sent for more information. talked about she saw.  Her concern went deeper.

• EMPATHY

• She wanted the story; she wanted to hear it first-hand (the clothes were a scheme to get close)

• When she sent for the story, she got back more than she thought… Mordecai went public, not hiding anymore. Brings Esther into the pain, into the problem.

• Esther Wrestled with Risk (4:6-11)

• This is why I love her – she is so human!

• Upon hearing the request of her Uncle, she turned inward. She understood the problem and the pain – and had a very human response:

• She moved from empathy to “what about me” – She has seen the issue, has concerns, but ultimately sees the risk of her involvement

• She has been hiding her Jewish identity, what would the King do once her heard? He dealt with his former wife for less… and she knows the rules and custom: you simply do not do what Mordecai is suggesting. You die.

• Esther spins some; declares the slim way in (golden scepter) and is insecure in her favor with the King (has not seen him in 30 days)

• She sends back rational and fear to Mordecai

• Esther Accepted the Moment (4:12-17)

• Ultimately, we see how Esther comes out of her wrestling with her own personal risk. She will end this episode with a clear declaration of affirmation to Mordecai’s request and plan. She accepted the risk, and claimed her spot in the moment in Israel’s history. But, these last 6 verses build to this acceptance – the building is worth looking at.

• The Sovereignty of God:

• Verse 13-14a: 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. ¹⁴ 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.

• Esther was not the Savior in this situation. When Mordecai declares that “relief and deliverance for the Jews will come from another place”, he has his theology correct. God has a chosen people, God has made a covenant, God will fulfill his promises.  Esther is not a story about how the universe in on one person’s shoulder, but more of a story that no matter how bad it seems, no matter how far God feels, no matter how big the threat or issue – God is sovereign.  So, if God is going to do what he is going to do, then why is Esther even needed?  Because God, since Genesis invites his people into relationship to accomplish his plans and purpose. And for Esther, she will next hear that she has been invited to this moment for such a time as this.

• The Divine Appointment

• Verse 14b: And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
• Esther has been given her life for this time and in this story, for this moment. Her life, her journey to become Queen, what has felt random or lucky (or unlucky based on your perspective) – has been a Divine appointment. All this, for this moment. Mordecai, is used to help her see her position, her access, her very life to be given for this particular moment… yes, God will do as he will – but the Esther is waking up the reality that she has been divinely appointed for this moment.

• The role of prayer and fasting

• Verse 16: “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.”
• DO you see the role devotion plays into this? Interestingly, you may know that God is never mentioned by name in the book of Esther… but this is a clear space where he is alluded to, referenced to.
• She is saying, I will obey – but first God. The call to prayer and fasting precedes the action of obedience.
• It is only after the prayer and fasting that obedience takes place – but note this, she did not connect the prayer and fasting to change the circumstance… she called for prayer and fasting knowing full well what was on the other side – “If I perish, I perish”

Esther is held as an example of obedience, but I hope you see the journey she was on toward obedience.  She has to see, she had to learn more, she wrestled with what it meant for her own safety, but she came to see herself as not random, but as ordained, set apart for this moment of obedience… she knew the problem, counted the cost, and accepted her place in the moment. 

So -  what can we learn from this?

Application

• Obedience is often beyond ourselves

• That makes obedience a struggle, to see and send…
• We have to see others people’s pain and weeping… modern world, we do not have too if we do not want to.
• STORY: do you drive to avoid seeing the pain? What gets up to and past your gate?
• To send to understand. To listen to understand
• To consider and see how who we are, what we have been given is for this moment.

• Obedience risks loss

• God calls us to some amazing places, some amazing moments… and often the risk of the moment; the fear in the moment can win over accepting the invitation.
• On Thursday, Scott White, Steve S., and myself will board a plane to visit some of the most amazing people connected to LAC, our International Staff. Each one, accepting an invitation that was and is full of risk. But, what they have said yes to is celebrated by many of us. 
• I am gearing up to hear about the loss, the risk – but I am also prepared that those will not be the main story, but to hear the adventure, the fulfillment of, in the midst of risk, being used by God for “such a time as this”.
• Risking loss is the journey we are on… do not see risk to be avoided but to be confronted.

• Obedience is “for such a time as this”

• Obedience lives in real-time
• What are you seeing?
• Who are you seeing?
• Can you hear anyone weeping?
• What are you learning?
• What are you praying for? Fasting for?
• YOU. YOU.  Stop punting responsibility to everyone else, blaming everyone else for the state of the world, the nation, your job? 
• Have you owned your obedience to the moment?

Close:

Have you considered that for you, you are living for “such a time as this”?  A common response and feeling sounds more like, it is such a hard time to be alive, to be raising kids, to be a Christian.  If we can be honest, we can sound like either defeatist who are overwhelmed by the state of the world, nation, and culture – that we have resigned to just endure.  Or the other extreme is to overly organize, to have more of a militant response. Time to double down, time to speak up, time to speak out, to strategize from an earthy level, to wield power for whatever our sense of right and wrong and what can cause change.

I hear it all the time in general from all sides. It seems that we can punt responsibility to whomever, whatever, or wherever we think change is supposed to happen.  We put pour trust and hope in politicians, positions, or even pastors to say, do, and act in the correct ways to enact change. 

But, I want to say this morning… what does it look like to look in the mirror and own your role in this moment?   What has the Lord given to you for such a time as this?  For our world, and even for this local church?

@ LAC

“a time like this” a church in motion, yes, but, a church looking and discerning for a new Senior pastor… hear me, do your survey… but please do not put your trust in a survey, or what the majority “wants” in a Senior Pastor… or in an individual human… do not put your ultimate trust in anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ and what and who he has ordained for this local church.  For you are here in this church family for such a time as this – to watch for the Lord’s provision and not try to control the Lord’s plan.

@ 2020 in USA

Let me go wider… this “time” is just that… a moment in time.  A moment in which division is loud and clear.  A moment in which there will be no perfect presidential candidate.  A moment that will have many of us coming to different conclusions based on our sense of what God calls for.  Can we handle this moment?  Can we as a church be an example of what runs counter to the rest of the world?

Or will we further divide?  Esther shows us what is required… we need to see one another, past our gates, past our neighborhoods. 

We need to send out to hear more, we need to learn.  It requires a broadness that runs counter to our algorithmic culture.  Our browsers, newsfeeds, and the people we follow are all formed and designed to keep us narrow and away from difference.  Not so with us, I pray.

We need to listen, to stop talking all the time and over one another.,, we need to listen to understand… and listen to inform action. 

Everyone who works @ LAC, sits with me when the begin and I go over our staff values and expectations.  Let me share with you the 3 staff values we have:

Staff Values:  Discussion, Dialogue, and Decision

Esther moved from preserving her own Self-welfare to risking for the welfare of her people. 

In a world of self-preservation, and self-welfare, do you hear the Lord calling you, calling us at LAC to be a people focused on the welfare of the other?  This call is costly… it has risks… but, keep reading Esther – it is a kind of obedience that is thrilling and puts in the exact moment we have been created for – “for such a time as this”.

Amen.

Chinese Study Notes

我灭亡了

掙扎后的顺服：2/16/2020

以斯帖记4：1-17

开场故事：

电影哈莉特

要点/过渡:

是什么使人遭遇恐惧时会有勇气？是什么使哈莉特·塔布曼敢于一次又一次地冒着生命危险为他人争取自由？这种意志力是从哪里来的？当然很多人都感到有需要，然而又是如何从需要转变为行动的呢？

今天当我们看另一位女强人和敬虔榜样以斯帖时，我祈祷我们能从她的故事，她的行动，她逐渐学到的顺服中发现对我们在自己的时代，自己的世界中能以顺服的一些有意义的联系。因为我们需要它，我们也处于同样的境遇，它正是“为了现今的机会”。

经文:

以斯帖 4:1-17

末 底 改 知 道 所 做 的 这 一 切 事 ， 就 撕 裂 衣 服 ， 穿 麻 衣 ， 蒙 灰 尘 ， 在 城 中 行 走 ， 痛 哭 哀 号 。

2 到 了 朝 门 前 停 住 脚 步 ， 因 为 穿 麻 衣 的 不 可 进 朝 门 。

3 王 的 谕 旨 所 到 的 各 省 各 处 ， 犹 大 人 大 大 悲 哀 ， 禁 食 哭 泣 哀 号 ， 穿 麻 衣 躺 在 灰 中 的 甚 多 。

4 王 后 以 斯 帖 的 宫 女 和 太 监 来 把 这 事 告 诉 以 斯 帖 ， 他 甚 是 忧 愁 ， 就 送 衣 服 给 末 底 改 穿 ， 要 他 脱 下 麻 衣 ， 他 却 不 受 。

5 以 斯 帖 就 把 王 所 派 伺 候 他 的 一 个 太 监 ， 名 叫 哈 他 革 召 来 ， 吩 咐 他 去 见 末 底 改 ， 要 知 道 这 是 甚 麽 事 ， 是 甚 麽 缘 故 。

6 於 是 哈 他 革 出 到 朝 门 前 的 宽 阔 处 见 末 底 改 。

7 末 底 改 将 自 己 所 遇 的 事 ， 并 哈 曼 为 灭 绝 犹 大 人 应 许 捐 入 王 库 的 银 数 都 告 诉 了 他 ；

8 又 将 所 抄 写 传 遍 书 珊 城 要 灭 绝 犹 大 人 的 旨 意 交 给 哈 他 革 ， 要 给 以 斯 帖 看 ， 又 要 给 他 说 明 ， 并 嘱 咐 他 进 去 见 王 ， 为 本 族 的 人 在 王 面 前 恳 切 祈 求 。

9 哈 他 革 回 来 ， 将 末 底 改 的 话 告 诉 以 斯 帖 ；

10 以 斯 帖 就 吩 咐 哈 他 革 去 见 末 底 改 ， 说 ：

11 「 王 的 一 切 臣 仆 和 各 省 的 人 民 都 知 道 有 一 个 定 例 ： 若 不 蒙 召 ， 擅 入 内 院 见 王 的 ， 无 论 男 女 必 被 治 死 ； 除 非 王 向 他 伸 出 金 杖 ， 不 得 存 活 。 现 在 我 没 有 蒙 召 进 去 见 王 已 经 三 十 日 了 。 」

12 人 就 把 以 斯 帖 这 话 告 诉 末 底 改 。

13 末 底 改 托 人 回 覆 以 斯 帖 说 ： 你 莫 想 在 王 宫 里 强 过 一 切 犹 大 人 ， 得 免 这 祸 。

14 此 时 你 若 闭 口 不 言 ， 犹 大 人 必 从 别 处 得 解 脱 ， 蒙 拯 救 ； 你 和 你 父 家 必 致 灭 亡 。 焉 知 你 得 了 王 后 的 位 分 不 是 为 现 今 的 机 会 吗 ？ 」

15 以 斯 帖 就 吩 咐 人 回 报 末 底 改 说 ：

16 「 你 当 去 招 聚 书 珊 城 所 有 的 犹 大 人 ， 为 我 禁 食 三 昼 三 夜 ， 不 吃 不 喝 ； 我 和 我 的 宫 女 也 要 这 样 禁 食 。 然 後 我 违 例 进 去 见 王 ， 我 若 死 就 死 吧 ！ 」

17 於 是 末 底 改 照 以 斯 帖 一 切 所 吩 咐 的 去 行 。

这是神的话

请坐

讲章正文

首先，一些背景介绍:

以斯帖记就像一出肥皂剧。在座的各位如果有感到圣经无聊的人，请读读以斯帖记。我给大家介绍一下本文事件发生之前的背景。首先，这个故事发生在巴比伦被掳100年后。当时有些犹太人返乡了，有些没有。以斯帖记载的是没有返回家乡继续生活在书珊，古波斯帝国首都，的一群犹太人的故事。

主要人物有：

• 波斯王亚哈随鲁
• 恶棍哈曼
• 末底改，以斯帖的叔叔犹太人
• 以斯帖，侄女

1-3章大纲

• 1-2章：王举办2个盛大宴会，历时187天，炫耀自己的伟大
• 宴会最后一日，王喝得酩酊大醉要他的王后给众人展示她的美貌
• 王后拒绝后被贬 –王下令通告全波斯男人在家要当家作主
• 接着举行选美大赛甄选新王后
• 以斯帖和末底改上场
• 以斯帖隐藏出身摘得桂冠
• 国王为她着迷，随即立为波斯新晋王后
• 同时，末底改偷听到有人想暗杀国王，告诉了以斯帖。以斯帖转告国王，末底改救驾有功
• 3章：哈曼仗着受国王器重要求全国百姓向他下拜
• 末底改拒不跪拜，哈曼盛怒，后发现末底改是犹太人
• 哈曼说服国王下诏杀所有犹太人，他们掣签定大屠杀时间。。签 …

犹太人必死无疑。。。接着来到我们今天的经文：

我们从今天的经文看到以斯帖的品格和行动，在这17节经文中，有三个显著的动作可以了解以斯帖的行动和故事进展。

• 以斯帖看见和打听 (4:1-5)

我们要花些时间重点看看前3章发生的事才能更好理解末底改为何悲哀。 

• 末底改在公开场合为书珊城的犹太人灭顶之灾悲哀。穿着麻衣坐在灰尘中（下周重点，公开举哀—坐在朝门口哀号是古代人示威的一种做法）
• 到朝门前停住脚步，不进朝门 = 不是我的问题

• 以斯帖看到这一幕。不仅看到，她还进一步了解情况。谈论所见的。深入关切。

• 同情

• 她想了解实情；她想听到一手信息（送衣服是接近的手段）

• 她派人去了解到的情况远超想象。。。末底改如实相告。将以斯帖扯进痛苦麻烦中。

• 以斯帖的挣扎和冒险 (4:6-11)

• 这正是我喜欢她的原因 – 特有人情味！

• 得知她叔叔的请求后，她开始掂量。她了解其中的麻烦和痛苦—并作出非常人性的回应:

• 她从同情转到“那我可怎么办”—她看到问题，开始关切，但最后看出自己被拖下水的危险 。

• 她一直瞒着她的犹太人身份，王知道了怎么办？他对待前妻那么薄情。。。她深知规定和习俗：绝不能照末底改说的做，做了必死无疑。

• 以斯帖迅速转着脑筋；金杖的惩罚和对国王青睐的不安全感（30天都没召见她了）

• 她以理性和胆怯回应末底改

• 以斯帖接受她的時機 (4:12-17)

• 最后，我们看到以斯帖如何走出与自己的挣扎。她决定以接受末底改的请求和计划结束这一幕。他接受了冒险，在以色列历史的这一时刻她守住了自己的位置。然而，最后6节经文是她接受的基础—很值得一看。

• 上帝的权能:

• 13-14上: 他回答说：你 莫 想 在 王 宫 里 强 过 一 切 犹 大 人 ， 得 免 这 祸 。14 此 时 你 若 闭 口 不 言 ， 犹 大 人 必 从 别 处 得 解 脱 ， 蒙 拯 救 ； 你 和 你 父 家 必 致 灭 亡 。

• 以斯帖并非是当下的救世主。当末底改说 “犹 大 人 必 从 别 处 得 解 脱 ， 蒙 拯 救” , 是表达了他正确的神学观。上帝拣选了一个民族，立了一个约，上帝还要实现他的应许。以斯帖的故事并非讲述她如何将宇宙的问题独自扛在自己肩上，而是讲事情看起来无论多糟糕，上帝看起来无论多遥远，威胁看起来无论多么大—上帝仍是权能的。那么，既然上帝要成就他要成就的，还要以斯帖做什么呢？因为上帝自创世以来就邀请他的百姓与他同工完成他的计划和旨意。对以斯帖而言，她正是在这个时刻听到了这个邀请。

• 神圣的约定

• 14节下: “焉 知 你 得 了 王 后 的 位 分 不 是 为 现 今 的 机 会 吗 ？”
• 以斯帖正是为这一时刻的这一故事而生。她的生命，一路走到后位，无论感觉多么偶然或幸运（或按你的看法也许是不幸）--一直都是一个神圣的约定。一切都是为了这一时刻而存在。末底改被使用来帮助她认清她的地位，她的时机，她的个人生命为此而生。。。是的，上帝必要做成他所愿的—但以斯帖此刻觉醒到她是被神圣旨意所预备的。

• 禁食祷告的角色

• 16节: “ 你 当 去 招 聚 书 珊 城 所 有 的 犹 大 人 ， 为 我 禁 食 三 昼 三 夜 ， 不 吃 不 喝 ； 我 和 我 的 宫 女 也 要 这 样 禁 食 。 然 後 我 违 例 进 去 见 王 ， 我 若 死 就 死 吧 ！ ”
• 你看到灵修在这里的意义了吗？有趣的是，你也许注意到了以斯帖记一次都没提到上帝的名字。。。但这里清楚暗示，暗指上帝
• 她是在说，我会顺服—但要先顺服上帝。禁食祷告要先于顺服的行动。
• 顺服发生在禁食祷告之后—但请注意，她并没说禁食祷告会改变处境。。。她号召禁食祷告的另一用意是—“我 若 死 就 死 吧！”

以斯帖是顺服的榜样，但我希望大家看到她顺服的历程。她需要先看到，了解到，与自己要遭遇的危险挣扎过，才认识到她所经历的并非偶然，而是预定的，为这一时刻预备好分别出来的。。。他知道问题，数算过代价，接受了当下的地位。 

那么 – 我们从中可以学到什么呢?

应用

• 顺服有时是超越我们个人的
  • 这使得顺服很麻烦，需要看见和打听。。。
  • 我们需要看到别人的痛苦和哭泣。。。现代社会，不想做就不必做。
  • 故事：你竭力回避看到苦难吗？你有什么不迈的门槛吗？
  • 去打听以了解。去聆听以明白。
  • 认真考虑我们到底是谁，天生我才此刻该做什么。

• 顺服会有损失
  • 上帝呼召我们到达一些奇妙的地步，一些奇妙的时刻。。。通常也是冒险的时刻；当下的恐惧可能会妨碍接受邀请。
  • 司各特怀特，史提芬(Scott White, Steve S.)和我周四就要乘机前去和我们教会的国际同工，一些了不起的人们见面。他们中的每一位都接受了充满冒险的邀请。然而，正是因为他们的答应我们才得以在这里为许多事庆祝。
  • 我已经准备好会听到失落，危险等—但我也相信这并不是主要故事，我更会听到奇遇，成全，在危险中“为了现今的机会”被上帝使用。
  • 人在旅途失落一定会有。。。不要看见危险就逃避而要直面它。

• 顺服是“为了现今的机会”
  • 顺服要来真的
  • 你看到什么?
  • 你看到谁?
  • 你听到有人在哭泣吗?
  • 你了解到什么?
  • 你为什么祷告？禁食?
  • 你。你。你。不要再将责任踢给他人，为世界的，民族的，工作上的状况指责他人。
  • 你欠当下的时刻一次顺服吗？

结尾:

你想过你活在当下也是“为了现今的机会”吗？当今人们的反应和感受普遍是活着不易，养孩子不易，做基督徒不易。然而如果我们可以诚实些，或许我们听起来不会像是一个世界，民族和文化手下的败兵—只能委曲求全。或走向另一个极端，过于有条理，好像应战的士兵。要按着时机出手，讲话，发表意见，有人情味地策划，为是非对错使用权威带来改变。

我总是听到人们这样说，似乎我们任何时候都可以把任何责任踢给任何人就会带来我们想要的改变。我们将我们的信任和希望一股脑儿地倾注在那些政客，权位或牧师身上，指望他们能说和做对的事情，于是乎改变就发生了。 

但是今天早上我想说。。。如果你照着镜子对自己说，我在现今的机会要承担起我的角色使命，那又会是如何？为了我们的世界，为了我们的这间教会？

@ LAC

“现今的机会”，行动起来的教会，是的，然而，一间正在分辨寻找主任牧师的教会。。。请听我说，大家可以做问卷调查，但请不要信任调查，或大多数人“想要”一位怎样的牧师。。。或一位怎样的人。。。请不要将你们的终极信任放在主耶稣基督以外的任何一位世人身上，或蒙召为这间教会所能做的事或人上。因为你在这个教会大家庭中就是为了现今的机会—观看主的护理供应，而不是试图掌控主的计划。

@ 2020 的美国

请让我再说远一些。。。这个“机会”就是。。。当下的时刻。就是分裂的楚歌四面唱响的时刻。就是没有完美的主席候选人的时刻。就是许多人对于上帝呼召的心意无法达成共识的时刻。我们能直面这一时刻吗？作为教会我们敢于秀出与世界不同的榜样吗？

还是我们会继续紛爭？以斯帖给我们做了榜样。。。我们需要看到对方的難處。

我们需要更多打听，更多了解。需要有和今天的算计文化相悖的宽容。我们今天浏览的东西，收到的信息，跟从的人都是要我们狭隘和远离求同存异的。我祷告我们不做这样的人。

我们需要倾听，驻足彼此谈论。。。，我们需要倾听以理解。。。倾听以付诸行动。 

所有在本教会工作的员工，开始时请和我一起阅读员工价值观和期望。让我在这里和大家分享3点价值观：

员工价值观：讨论，对话，决策

以斯帖从保护个人利益走向冒险保护百姓利益 

在一个人人自危自保的世界，你听到主在呼召你，呼召我们教会成为心系他人福祉的群体吗？这个呼召是要付宝贵代价的。。。是要冒险的。。。但是，继续读以斯帖记—这扣人心弦的顺服正是为了我们被造的这一时刻—“现今的机会”。

阿门。