{"id":14931,"date":"2013-09-30T01:00:44","date_gmt":"2013-09-30T06:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=14931"},"modified":"2013-09-29T21:25:06","modified_gmt":"2013-09-30T02:25:06","slug":"esther-chapter-51-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/09\/30\/esther-chapter-51-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Esther – Chapter 5:1-2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here we are in the middle of our study of the Book of Esther.\u00a0 Throughout her book, Esther: The Beauty of Courageous Submission<\/em>, Mrs. Schacht shares her understanding of the meaning of the symbolism used in the Scriptures concerning Esther\u2019s story.\u00a0 One of the most beautiful pictures painted with words is here in Esther 5:1 and 2.<\/p>\n

On the third day [of the fast] Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the royal or inner court of the king\u2019s palace opposite his throne room.\u00a0 The king was sitting on his throne, facing the main entrance of the palace.
\nAnd when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to [her] the golden scepter that was in his hand.\u00a0 So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter.<\/p>\n

Take a moment\u00a0and picture it in your mind…it is a vision of power, of majesty and of grace.\u00a0 And it must lead us to a vision of the same\u2014power, majesty, and grace\u2014as we, like Esther, approach the Throne\u2014God\u2019s Throne of grace.\u00a0 Esther, however, approached Ahasuerus\u2019 throne with genuine fear knowing it might mean death.\u00a0 Remember her words to Mordecai?<\/p>\n

Esther 4:16
\n…and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law:
\nand if I perish, I perish.<\/p>\n

Here is where the similarity ends.\u00a0 It ends at the Cross.\u00a0 Our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, was the spotless Lamb—the Perfect Sacrifice—required to take away our sins.\u00a0 We need have no trepidation or fear.\u00a0 Our welcome has been attained; we have access given to us through the precious blood of Jesus.<\/p>\n

Colossians 2:13 and 14
\nHe forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,
\nwhich stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.<\/p>\n

Ephesians 2:13
\nBut now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away
\nhave been brought near by the blood of Christ.<\/p>\n

Hebrews 10:19-22
\nTherefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.<\/p>\n

There is no doubt\u2014we can have boldness and confidence; we can draw near in full assurance; we have hearts and bodies which have been cleaned; we have been brought near\u2014by the blood of Christ!\u00a0 And so…<\/p>\n

\n

Hebrews 4:16
\nTherefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace,
\nthat we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our times of need.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Oh what joy…what thrill…what hallelujah goosebumps we should experience!\u00a0 My sisters, by Jesus\u2019 blood we have arrived!!!\u00a0 Not by works, not by anyTHING we could do\u2014not prayer, not tithing, not service, no good works of our own\u2014nothing of ourselves!\u00a0 Only Jesus\u2019 blood, His righteousness, provides for us.<\/p>\n

And so, my sisters, I encourage you to remember what is available to you.\u00a0 Do not allow the enemy of your soul to tell you any different!\u00a0 Jesus died for you (and me!).\u00a0 His blood has purchased us.\u00a0 We have been given access to God Almighty.\u00a0\u00a0 Therefore assured of your righteousness through Jesus, go boldly and confidently,\u00a0 before His throne of grace to receive the mercy and the grace your heavenly Father has to give to you.<\/p>\n