From Rags to Riches

Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this? Esther 4:14 (NLT)

In a Persian palace in Susa, nearly 500 years before the birth of Christ, a lavish banquet is being held that lasts 180 days. King Xerxes, king of Persia, is in high spirits as he celebrates his tremendous wealth with his nobles, high officials and military officers. No expense is spared on this opulent display of his possessions. When he attempts to display his prized possession, Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, she refuses. The exuberant celebration turns acrimonious. The king burns with anger and banishes her from his presence forever. (Esther 1).

The king is persuaded by his personal attendants to search for a beautiful young woman to replace Queen Vashti. A search goes out throughout the provinces for a new queen. Esther, a beautiful, orphaned Jewess living in Susa, is brought to the king’s palace along with other women. The king is delighted with Esther. He sets the royal crown on her head and throws a great banquet in her honour. In that moment, Esther’s life changes dramatically (Esther 2:1-18). Esther is no longer an ordinary young woman but the queen of an immensely wealthy empire. A queen that God had commissioned and placed in position. A queen who would change the course of history.

Not many of us will experience an extraordinary rags-to-riches story as Esther did. But as followers of Jesus Christ, we can experience a rags-to-riches transformation in our hearts and minds. We can experience this because of what Jesus did for us. He came to earth and exchanged His heavenly riches for earthly rags. He exchanged His divine nature for the nature of a servant (Philippians 2:6-9).

Beauty For Ashes

This same Jesus has commissioned us to do extraordinary things for His kingdom when we are prepared to exchange our rags for His riches. Perhaps our rags are the labels we or others have placed on us. Labels that say, “I’m not good enough. I will never achieve anything. I’m a failure. I’m not smart enough. I’m not worthy. I’ve made so many mistakes, I cannot possibly be used by God.” But God does not see us this way. He sees us as He did Esther, adorned in her royal robes and crown, even before she was crowned queen.

God desires for us to shed our rags and allow Him to clothe us in His rich new robes. His rich robes that say “I am a child of the King (John 1:12). Clothed with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness Isaiah 61:10. A display of His splendour Isaiah 61:3.

Who knows if perhaps we have been adorned in Christ’s rich robes of love, grace and eternal beauty for such a time as this?

He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

 

Reflection:

Are the rags you are wearing preventing you from doing the extraordinary things that God has commissioned for you?

Prayer:

Forgive me, Lord, for wearing my rags instead of the festive robes that you have for me. I give you my rags. I pray for healing from those things that have kept me in rags instead of your rich robes. In Jesus’ name, amen.