“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from an- other 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?” Esther 4:14
Throughout history various athletes have stood up for (or against) causes. Some athletes have stood against war, others for equal rights, while others stood for various other causes.
Not all were right and not all were wrong, but each athlete believed what he or she was doing was the right thing to do.
None, though, had the gravity of Esther’s situation and no sane person would argue what she stood for was wrong. She was against the slaughter of her people, the Jews; a plan devised by King Ahasuerus’ right-hand man, Haman.
To plead her case (and protest), she had to put her life on the line. In those days if she wanted to speak to the king, he had to call for her. Going into his presence without his permission could mean death to that person. Her uncle, Mordecai, though, convinced her that God could have placed her in that position to save the Jewish people. Not doing anything, though, would mean the Jewish nation’s demise.
In the end, Esther found favor from the king and the people were spared, while Haman was hung on the very gallows he had made for the Jews.
Standing for something, especially for Christ, may not cost you your life, but it will make an impact.
By Brett Honeycutt
This devotional was taken from Sports Spectrum’s latest Training Table, a 13-week devotional published in each print issue. Log in HERE to view the Winter 2016 print issue of Sports Spectrum or access the Winter 2016 Training Table.
