“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10 KJV)
Consider the following statement. A rejected opportunity is a lost opportunity. Now think about all the lost opportunities you have known or heard of. Here’s a few to get you started. The person who rejected Joseph and Mary as guests. The Priest and Levite who rejected the wounded traveler. The rich, young ruler who rejected our Lord’s proposal to sell everything and become his disciple.
For reasons known only to themselves, these people turned away from opportunity. There really is no reason to speculate. We simply do not know why. None of them, however, is known by name. All of them missed the chance of a lifetime. Each one is only a nameless example of a bad decision.
There are other biblical examples of people who took hold of the opportunities from God. Enoch walked with God and warned his generation of the impending judgment of God. Noah found grace, warned his generation and saved his family. Abram believed God and went on to become the Father of Faith. John the Baptist accepted the call to be a ‘voice crying in the wilderness’ and warned his generation to repent. Andrew took note of ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ and won his brother Simon Peter. Peter followed Jesus and became the rock-solid disciple who went first to Joppa to heal a young girl then to Cæsarea to preach the gospel at Cornelius’ house. Time would fail us to consider the countless people who, by faith, have achieved mighty things for God.
Opportunities happen everyday. Opportunities will come our way. We may not always recognize the opportunity. They don’t present themselves with flashing lights and gongs. Instead, they come in the form of hurting people, problems, obstacles, and challenging situations. They come as cries for help, needs, and pleas for deliverance.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for the opportunities which come to us everyday. Enable us to have open eyes and ears to recognize an opportunity. Empower us to step up to the challenge. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Be courageous today in your opportunities,