When Opportunities Appear

From the moment we receive Jesus, until we see Him face to face, our lives are filled with opportunities and should be characterized by excitement and adventure!  This is accomplished through the Lord's continual invitation for us to draw closer to Him and to participate with Him in touching the lives of others.  God wants us to be wise in our decision making and alert to opportunities that He provides.  There are seven areas that God provides opportunity for us to make a difference.

1.  To Share.  In John 6:1-14 a small boy "shared" his lunch with Jesus and as a result of what he gave, it was multiplied and thousands were fed.  Just like this little boy, you and I will rarely anticipate how God wants to use us.  So watch for opportunities to experience the joy of giving.

2.  To Serve The Lord.  Jesus called Peter to leave his successful fishing business and embark on a risky new venture of being His disciple (Matthew 4:18-20).  Because he stepped out in faith, God used him in powerful ways to help establish the early church.  Likewise, we can be confident that no matter how unqualified we feel, the Lord will always enable us to walk through the doors He opens.

3.  To Grow In Relationship With Christ.  Mary, the sister of Martha, wisely chose to listen to Jesus' teachings instead of being overly concerned with meal preparations (Luke 10:38-42).  We should never let unnecessary busyness rob us of our chance to know the Savior better.

4.  To Help Others.  In Luke 5:17-26 the paralytic's friends were determined to help their friend. And as a result they had the joy of seeing their friend not only healed but also saved from his sins. We, too, must be willing to do whatever God asks of us, even if helping others involves pressing through a challenge.

5.  To Witness For Jesus.  When Paul was in jail he had the opportunity to witness to the jailer and as a result the jailer and his entire household was saved.  We too, must be willing to do whatever God asks of us, even if helping others involves pressing through a challenge (Acts 17:22-34).

6.  To Understand Who Jesus Is.  Zacchaeus' life was transformed when he determined to understand who Jesus really was and Jesus reached out to him and went to his home.  Don't let other people or difficult circumstances discourage you from responding to the opportunities God sends your way (Luke 19:1-10).

7.  To Receive Salvation.  A rich young ruler asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life.  Knowing that the man's wealth was a stumbling block to his faith, the Lord answered that he should sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.  Unfortunately, the ruler chose not to heed Jesus' instruction and missed his chance at salvation.  The wisest choice anyone can make is to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ.  There is no greater thrill than to have a vibrant, personal relationship with the Make of the universe! (Mark 10:17-22).

What opportunities has the Lord set before you today?  Did He bring to mind someone who needs to hear the gospel, despite your fears of what that person might think?  Or maybe your compassionate Father is asking you to endure a circumstance He knows will bring about good, but one that also carries with it a measure of difficulty.

Regardless of what God prompts you to do, my prayer is that you will realize the promise and excitement of the Christian life as you walk carefully, make wise decisions, and lay hold of the opportunities before you.

Pastor Temple