Heroes of the Faith, Part 8Sample

Face the Risks

Bible story: Esther - Esther 2-8

Theme verse: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Let’s look at a remarkably brave woman who faced the risks to save her people. The Jews (Israelites) were in exile because they had forsaken God. But even in exile, God showed up for them. God is always with you wherever you go. King Xerxes of Persia deposed the queen for disobeying him in front of all his nobles. He later searched for a new queen, and a young Jewish woman named Esther pleased him and became queen.

Meanwhile, a man named Haman rose to power and became the king’s right-hand man. Haman grew to hate Mordecai, Esther’s cousin who raised her. He even hated all the Jews throughout the empire. With the king’s permission, he wrote a decree telling everyone to kill the Jews on a certain day later in the year. The Jews were all in great danger! They cried to God for help. Mordecai asked Esther to go before the king and plead for life on behalf of her people. Young Esther was terrified because anyone who went into the king’s presence without being summoned was put to death.

We have talked about what bothers you and how you can take action for the good of God’s people. But, what if it is risky and there is a chance that it goes wrong or that you could get hurt somehow?

Esther risked death to save her people. She asked all the Jews to pray and fast along with her and her companions. As she approached the king’s hall, she probably looked at the blades on the guards’ swords. How scary! But she was willing to do it for her people.

When you are scared, you can pray to God for help. You can also choose to focus on the potential good results instead of thinking about the possible bad results, deciding that the possible good is worth all the risk.

The king was pleased with her and came to her banquet. She told the king about Haman’s plot, and the king had Haman killed.

But there was still a problem! The date was still set for killing all the Jews throughout the empire. What happens if, when you take the risk, it does not work out the way you thought it would? Do you stop and give up? If Esther gave up, the Jews would still die.

She bravely went back to the king again, and they issued a second decree that saved all the Jews.

Risk is scary because you do not know what will happen. It probably won’t happen exactly the way you want it to. But no matter how scary something is, know these things: God is with you no matter what (Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus has already won (John 16:33). God will turn even bad things into good somehow (Romans 8:28). And God will surely reward you (1 Corinthians 15:58, Genesis 15:1).

I choose to face the risks and pursue God and the good of His people.

Questions:

1. How big of a risk should we take for the kingdom of God?

2. Must we all take risks in our lives?

3. What risks have you taken?

Application to life:

Ask God for an opportunity to do something cool for Him, like telling someone about Jesus, praying out loud in a group, or talking to someone new. When the moment comes, if you are afraid to do it, think about how it could bless someone else and try to do it anyway. If you don’t succeed the first time, it’s ok. Ask God for help and try again and again until you succeed.