Responsibilities

There were new faces in TLC today! That was quite exciting. Though it seems like people who came in the past years seem to be too busy, we're seeing new faces. The leaders decided that this year we're going to try to focus on different characters throughout the year - hopefully one a month. Today we had a discussion on Esther and essentially responsibilities. Queen Esther went through a lot of things as a child. As an orphan, her uncle Mordecai raised her. When the King was looking for a new Queen, she was taken in along with other women to be considered to be the next Queen. She pleased the King and therefore she became Queen! However a heavy responsibility fell upon Esther. Haman created a decree that allowed him to kill Jewish people on a certain day. Mordecai urged Esther, as the Queen, to plead before the King.

Esther 4:

¹⁰ Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, ¹¹ “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “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 maids 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.”

Despite being under all the pressure, Queen Esther chose to take upon the responsibilities God had given her and carried them out. Then this lead into another thing - responsibilities God has given us as Christians. Even though we're "only" teenagers and "only" in high school, we have the responsibility has Christians to tell others about him. It's definitely hard. I get so distracted with schoolwork and I like to be comfortable, but it was definitely a good reminder to spread the gospel. I believe there are other specific responsibilities God has given each person such as using the talents he has given us to glorify him to washing the dishes.

This discussion was really encouraging to me today. Just watching people partake in the discussion, I realized that there are people at Roosevelt living for God. Yes, we all have our weaknesses, but we're here to encourage and support each other. Apparently there's going to be a new Christian club that meets on Thursdays. I think their main focus is going to be in Bible studies, but it's great. I hope that more people may come to accept the salvation that comes through Jesus and be able to live their lives for Him! Ahh, it's the best decision you'll ever make.

Speaking of responsibilities, I feel like sometimes responsibilities can end up feeling burdensome. However, it's important that we choose to do the right thing under heavy circumstances. Look at Esther - look at the consequences her decisions brought. She saved the Jewish people from a genocide! Even though responsibilities can seem burdensome, let's trust God and be faithful to him. (: 

Though it may not seem like it, our decisions affect other people