NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “If I perish, I perish” To perish means to die or to be destroyed. If “I perish, I perish” means taking a chance or daring to do something with a probability of surviving or dying at the end. We shall reflect on the fact that to be victorious in life we must learn to take risks, whether we perish or not in taking such risks, we must always take a step of faith and allow God to do His will in our lives.

Beloved in the Lord, we must dare to take risks to overcome the obstacles in our lives. If we perish, we perish but most important let us always take a step of faith and allow God to do His will in our lives. Esther 4:11 makes us understand that it is the law of the Persians that any person, including the queen, who appears before the King in his inner court uninvited could perish. Queen Esther had already had her turn at the inner court of the King, she would have to be invited again before she could appear before the King at his inner court meanwhile there was a looming genocidal attack on the Jews by Haman, an avowed enemy of Mordecai and the Jews. Esther had to take the risk of entering the King’s inner court uninvited to save her people, therefore, she said to Mordecai, “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. (Esther 4:16-17).

Esther took the risk but most importantly took the step of faith by praying and seeking the guidance and protection of the Lord. We are told that “On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. ² When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. ³ Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” ⁴ “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.” ⁵ “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.” (Esther 5:1-5) In other words, when the King saw her, instead of being hostile to her for coming to his inner court uninvited, he warmly received her and obliged to her request. Beloved in the Lord, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). Our faith must lead us to take risks even if it means doing the will of God. If we perish, we perish if that is the will of God. The joy is that if we must perish, we perish in the service of the Lord. For this reason, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied King Nebuchadnezzar, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ” (Daniel 3:16-18). These godly men of faith took the risk of doing God’s will rather than obeying the most powerful king on earth at the time. We are told that “King Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”…They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” (Daniel 3:26-27). Beloved in the Lord, if “I perish, I perish” is a statement of faith which means I will put my trust in the Lord and do His will even if it will cost me my life. The Psalmist assures us that if we take risks in serving God and walking in faith with Him we “…will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done (Psalms 118:17). David further assures us that as we take risks in serving God through faith, “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. (Psalms 91:7-8) Indeed, after observing all the risks he had to endure on account of serving God, David again testified that “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.” (Psalms 23:4-6). Jesus ultimately is our perfect example of risking one’s life on account of one’s faith when He said “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Paul makes us understand that “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

Beloved in the Lord, why are you afraid to take that risk and step of faith to serve God in your church, family and society. Many of us are afraid of the destructive criticisms and antagonism from those around us therefore we have refused to respond to God’s call. We have become passive church attendees and only occupy the pews in our congregations on Sundays. Esther is challenging us to fast, pray and say to the Lord, “Here I am Lord, send me. If I perish, I perish” Remember that God will not elevate you if He has no plans for you. Esther was elevated because God had plans for her and her people. Be the hope of your church, family and society by responding to God’s call to serve, take a risk that will inure to the benefit of family, church and society and above all trust God in the process and victory will be yours.

In summary, we have meditated on the theme “If I perish, I perish” We have discovered that to be victorious in life we must learn to take risks, whether we perish or not in taking such risks, we must always take a step of faith and allow God to do His will in our lives. Shalom.

PRAYER
Lord Almighty, in our doubt and despair we surrender our lives to you. May our faith overcome the fear and doubts in us. Almighty God, use us for your glory and our victory even as we take risks and steps of faith to bring transformation to our church and society. Amen.