Four-Calendar Café

“He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing to oppose you.”

Jeremiah 38:5 (NIV)

No one holds a position of power without God having put them into the position. Jesus told Pilate this and it is still true today (John 19:11). Furthermore, we know that it is God who guides a ruler’s heart in the direction that He wants it to go (Proverbs 21:1). Because it is God who allows people to rise to the positions they are in, we, the Children of God, need to give them respect worthy of God even when we don’t like what they are doing. You may not see yourself as a king or queen but you too, are in the position that you are in because God is the one who put you there.

I don’t know about you but I will certainly confess to saying, at one time or another, “What can I do?” It pains me to think of the power of those four words. There’s so much contained within that short sentence that speaks of futility, powerlessness, hopelessness, apathy, and guile. While we’re usually quick to say how much we might think that we deserve, whatever it is that we want, we can be even faster in denying any responsibility for having the power to affect the world around us. I think all of us when we want something, can put forth the multitude of reasons why we want it. If you’re like me you wouldn’t be so likely as to admit that you think you deserve it. Whatever it is, but, being like me, I think there’s at least a grain of thought somewhere within you that say’s, “I deserve this.” If there weren’t then why are we put off when we don’t get what we want?

When the prophet, Jeremiah, was telling the people of Judah that the Babylonians were going to destroy and burn the city and take the people away as captives there were many priests and officials in Jerusalem who didn’t like what he was telling them. Jeremiah became even more unpopular when he started to tell the people that the only way that they could be spared was if they surrendered to the Babylonians. Can you imagine that? Your country is at war and a religious leader is on television, the radio, and the Internet telling people that they need to surrender to the enemy.

Therefore, the officials of Judah did what the officials of any country would do today. They took the criminal in hand and exacted justice on him. Well, they took him before Zedekiah and told him what was going on and what they thought should happen, “’This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin’” (Jeremiah 38:4 NIV). Zedekiah wasn’t sitting in a corner unaware of what was going in Judah. He knew all about Jeremiah and the things that he said. Furthermore, we are told, “Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet” (Jeremiah 37:2 NIV).

What stands out to me is Zedekiah’s response to his officials, “He is in your hands…The king can do nothing to oppose you” (Jeremiah 38:5 NIV). I don’t know how you might see this but what I hear is the king saying, ” What can I do? ” I’m reminded of two other people in the Bible. Esther and Pilate. Most of us know what Pilate did before the Jews, “he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!'” (Matthew 27:24 NIV). Don’t you find it ironic that this is the same man told Jesus, “’Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’” (John 19:10 NIV). This is the duality of thought we each have within us. When we want something, then who and what we are matters. However, if we don’t want to do something then we claim that we have no power to act with that wily question, ” What can I do?”

If you don’t know the story of Esther in the Bible then I think you should read it. When I think of Esther and all that happened in her life and in the lives of the Jewish people there’s one thing that stands out to me today. When Esther said, ” What can I do?” she was answered by another question, “‘who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?'” (Esther 4:9-15)

My brothers and sisters, this is the question that God has put on my heart today, and I believe that He’s asking each of us to step up and do whatever it is we can do to help those around us. I believe that God is telling us to stop thinking about what we can’t do and to start thinking about what He can do through us.

Do you know God? God knows you and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so that we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.