For Such a Time as This
We connect this phrase most strongly with Esther “Who knows that you have come to such a position for such a time as this”. The truth is that we each have a “such a time as this” that has been planned ahead of us. God has planned “good works” for us to do and they are our “Such a time as this”.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Biblical destiny is not a matter of our lot or our fate. It is God’s purpose for us
Psalm 73:24
24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Stepping into this moment does not come out of the blue. It does not just appear. It comes from seeking God and his counsel. People who are an “Overnight Success” have usually spent years of hard work and preparation to walk into that moment. Think of the musicians and the artists who came to fame after years of hard work. These moments in time, the thing we were born for, does not necessarily get dropped into our laps. It comes as the result of a journey. This journey has several parts and several phases. Even people who have a sense of destiny and purpose over their life do not just walk into it.
So what are some of the steps on this journey? Whichever person you look at there are some key points.
1. Preparation
This is something that takes many shapes and forms. Sometimes this phase is a difficult one and actually has many obstacles or hardships that need to be overcome. For Esther it was being raised by a cousin and then removed from family and taken into a Harem that was totally a culture shock and totally different to anything she had known or experienced, (Esther 2). For Moses it was being brought up in a royal family in luxury and then living in the wilderness tending sheep (something no Egyptian wanted to do) until he was 80, (Exodus 2,3).
For Joshua it was spending time with Moses, walking in the wilderness with faithless people when he was full of faith and experiencing the battles along the way. (Exodus and Numbers 13). For Paul it was being a Pharisee and learning the laws of God and then living in obscurity for some time with people being afraid of him and suspecting him. (Acts 9, 13 Gal 1). For Jesus it was spending the early part of his life in obscurity, probably as a carpenter. (Luke 2). Joseph was sold as a slave and then ended up in prison wrongfully accused by a sly woman. Genesis 37 onwards
God has a preparation time for each of us. In many ways, even when we are walking in destiny and purpose we find ourselves being prepared for the next step, the next phase of the journey. If you’re feeling like you’re not quite walking in your purpose – that’s ok. God has you in his preparation phase.
What to do in the preparation phase? Continue to seek God and his Kingdom purpose. When making decisions, be sure they are good ones, based on God’s Word, good advice etc. Do what is in your hand to do. It may not be your dream job, but it could well be the one that leads to your dream job.
Ecc 9:10
Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
If you are feeling stuck – think about what is causing that feeling. What is God trying to show you or teach you? Remember – we are told not to despise the day of small beginnings. Even the biggest dreams and projects start with small beginnings. This phase is a learning and growing phase – a phase where we discover our strengths and our challenges. It is a phase where God can use where you are for his purpose even when you can’t see it.
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
You may not be there yet, but you will be. This stage of the journey prepares us and teaches us. It is a phase of personal growth and revelation of God.
2. Service - Often in relative obscurity
Learning to serve with the right heart and attitude is a crucial part of stepping into purpose and destiny. Serving where you are, in whatever situation you are in, develops skills and talents. Most of all it helps us develop the right heart and the right attitude. “Service with a smile” is a bit corny, but how we serve is actually more important than where we serve.
Colossians 3:23
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Joseph is one of the best examples of this in the Bible. He served with skill and with the right attitude even when he was sold into slavery. He served with everything he had. It was not his purpose and destiny to be a slave in Potiphar’s house far removed from his family, but he served well wherever he was.
Genesis 39:2-9
The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
He went to prison because he was wrongly accused. Serving time in prison was not his destiny.
Genesis 39:19-23
Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20 So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And theLord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. 22 Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Even in prison Joesph served faithfully and with integrity.
What does this mean for us? Service requires faithfulness, integrity and the right attitude. Bad attitudes do not help people move into their purpose and destiny. Bad attitudes are the things that will ruin purpose and destiny. In fact it could be said that serving with a bad or indifferent attitude is not actually serving with faithfulness and integrity. It’s just turning up and going through the motions.
If we are to step into destiny, then our attitude becomes a key indicator for us. I believe one reason Joseph finally came to the notice of Pharaoh was because of his attitude. Pharaoh was not aware of it, but the gaoler was!! If Joseph had complained all the time, I expect he would have stayed in prison for a long time.
Philippians 2:14,15
Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people
We know Joseph had the right attitude because when he was released, he served Pharaoh with the same integrity he had served the gaoler and when his brothers came to him, He knew that God meant it for good. He could see how preparation and service were part of his destiny.
What’s your attitude like? Maybe we are not moving forward and stepping into our “such a time as this" because of our unwillingness to serve with the right attitude. Our attitude is how we think about life. An attitude is basically a way of thinking about things, about life and situations that we develop in our minds and in our thought life. Attitudes become patterns of behaviour that are expressed through the way we approach the things we do in life, our demeanour, the words we say and the way we behave.
What you think about a situation will become obvious. If we are to step into our “such a time as this” moment, then we must start working on our thought life and the area of attitudes.
Ephesians 4:23
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes
Mordecai told Esther that just because she was in the royal house didn’t mean she would escape. In some ways he is addressing the “I’m ok” attitude – "this doesn’t concern me" and the “Do I really care” attitude.This means being thankful for what we have and where we are instead of complaining about what we don’t have or where we’re not. Our attitudes are crucial to our purpose and our destiny.
How are you serving? (Not where, or for whom, or which department!!)
How? What is your attitude? Are you serving faithfully and with integrity?
3. Recognising the time and taking the risk
Eventually there comes a time to step into the purpose. This involves recognising the time and taking a risk. This is our opportunity, our destiny.
Matthew 10:18
You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
Mordecai was prepared to take a risk when he stood up to Haman. Esther was prepared to take a risk when she approached the king.
Esther 4:10-17
Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold sceptre. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” 12 So Hathach[a] gave Esther’s message to Mordecai.
13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
Paul was prepared to do so when he set out to preach the gospel – he was prepared to risk his life, to risk prison, no matter the cost, Acts 16:16-40. Paul tells us in his letters to make the most of every opportunity, and he knew how to embrace the opportunities God gave him, often at great personal cost.
Ephesians 5:16
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Colossians 4:5
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
Joseph had to recognise the time even when it was later than he expected. He had to take the risk of telling Pharaoh what the dream meant. He was given the opportunity to do so because he was faithful in service to the kingdom.
Stepping into destiny always means taking a risk. This does not mean it is not God ordained or God given, but there is always risk involved. There is always the risk that it won’t turn out as we expect. Esther had to face risking her life to save her people. Paul risked his life time and time again. God has a plan and a purpose for us. He has a destiny for us and taking a risk to fulfil his purpose and destiny is part of the deal.
What risks are you prepared to take?
Will you allow God to take you on a journey through preparation and service to step into your destiny?
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