Esther 4:14

Many centuries ago, a woman thought
things were too far gone.

She didn’t think there was anything she could do. It
was only a matter of time before all the Jews would be exterminated.

You remember
Esther. She was the Jewish wife of a Persian king, the man who was about to be
tricked into making an irrevocable, disastrous decision. All of Esther’s people
would soon be exterminated.

But just one person
could turn the tide. One!

Esther’s adoptive
father got her attention with these words,

“And who knows whether you have not
attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

That did it.

She
broke longstanding protocol and put her own life at risk. She marched into the
king’s throne room, spoke her mind . . . and ultimately rescued the Jews from
holocaust. One woman—only one voice—saved an entire nation.

As is true of
every person who stands in the gap, Esther was willing to get personally
involved to the point of great sacrifice. Or, as she said, “If I perish, I
perish” (4:16). She didn’t think, “Someone else should be doing this, not me,”
nor did she ignore the need because of the risk.

Sacrifice! It’s the stuff that
people with true character are made of. They’re the ones who make a difference.
Sacrifice is the quality that defines the servant’s heart.

Before you toss
all this aside, saying to yourself, “Aw, that’s for somebody else. How much
difference could I make?” just stop to consider the value of one.

Once you learn to
approach each day with the heart of a servant, you soon find that one person
really can make a difference. There is lasting joy and real peace in that way
of living. And the good news is that the Lord is actively seeking those who are
ready and willing to follow Him, no matter the sacrifice or cost.

A wonderful verse
reminds us: “For the eyes of the Lord
move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose
heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

It’s a lesson every pastor should
take to heart.

—Chuck