When Alexis Dunbar returned home, she received a huge surprise. A living, breathing alligator was lurking in her guest bedroom! The 6-foot gator had crawled out of a pond in her backyard and somehow squeezed through a small, swinging door used by Alexis’ cats. Wildlife crews trapped the wounded reptile in a bathroom and subsequently released it back into the wild. Alexis was greatly relieved when the wildlife crews took the gator away. And, fortunately, no kitties were eaten by the bewildered beast.

Queen Esther didn’t have to deal with a live alligator, but she did come face-to-face with what could have been the jaws of death. Due to the evil plot of a scoundrel named Haman, all of her people—the Jews—were to be exterminated (Esther 3:8-11).

Esther had a choice—either stay silent and allow them to be slaughtered, or go to the king and seek His mercy (Esther 4:8). Going to the king without being summoned, however, meant that the queen would be “put to death unless the king [extended] the gold scepter to [her]” (Esther 4:11).

Risking her life for her people, Esther said, “Though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die” (Esther 4:16). She timidly entered his throne room and . . . whew! . . . the king extended his golden scepter to her—meaning that she was welcomed. Ultimately, Esther’s people were saved because of her willingness to come to their aid.

There are believers in Jesus in your life who need you to come to their aid today. No gators or monarchs to be reckoned with. Instead, they’re wrestling with dangerous choices, addictions, or serious sins that are threatening them. Come to their aid by offering them courageous help and the truth spoken in love.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 20:1-42