Seizing the Moment: Recognizing and Embracing God's Opportunities
Introduction:
Life is a tapestry woven with countless opportunities, moments where God's providence intersects with our lives. Yet, how often do we miss these divine appointments, blinded by our expectations or trapped in the mundane? Today, we will explore the nature of God's opportunities, drawing from biblical examples to learn how to recognize and embrace them.
I. The Nature of God's Opportunities:
A. Beyond the Mundane:
• God's opportunities inject life with excitement and purpose, breaking the monotony of sameness.
• They challenge us, stretch us, and reveal hidden potential within us.
B. God's Ways of Directing Us:
• His Will (The Bible): Our foundational guide for righteous living.
• God's Providence: His unseen hand working behind the scenes.
• Opportunities: God's way of directing us through His providential care.
C. Walking Wisely:
• We must be careful in our conduct, wise in our decisions, and alert to the opportunities God presents.
• Opportunities are not limited to wealth or worldly success; they encompass far greater spiritual and relational blessings.
D. Opening Our Eyes:
• A boring, stagnant life often indicates closed eyes, an inability to see God's presence and provision.
II. Biblical Examples of God's Opportunities:
A. The Boy with the Loaves and Fish (John 6):
• Andrew's seemingly insignificant observation, "there is a lad who has five barley loaves and two fish," opened the door for a miraculous demonstration of God's power.
• The boy, unaware of the impending miracle, became a participant in a story that resonates 2000 years later.
• This illustrates Ephesians 5:16, "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
B. The Calling of Peter (Matthew 4:18-22):
• Jesus' call, "follow me and I will make you fishers of men," presented Peter with an unexpected opportunity.
• Peter, a successful businessman, could have dismissed it as impractical or inconvenient.
• Yet, he chose to embrace the opportunity, transforming from a fisherman to an apostle.
• This highlights that we are often unprepared for the opportunities God provides.
C. Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42):
• Martha, distracted by preparations, missed the opportunity to sit at Jesus' feet and receive spiritual nourishment.
• Mary, prioritizing Jesus' presence, chose "the good part," a choice that would endure.
• We all have the opportunity to spend time with Jesus through prayer and Bible study, an opportunity even greater than Mary's.
• Martha was more concerned with feeding Jesus than being fed by Jesus.
D. The Healing of the Paralyzed Man (Luke 5:17-21):
• The friends of the paralyzed man, undeterred by obstacles, created an opportunity by lowering him through the roof.
• Jesus, "seeing their faith," forgave the man's sins, demonstrating the power of persistent faith.
• Jesus called the man "anthropos" a general term for man, indicating that his faith was exemplary for all.
• We are called to not only be aware of opportunities, but to make them.
E. Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-6):
• Zacchaeus, a tax collector, overcame his physical limitations and social stigma to see Jesus.
• By climbing a sycamore tree, he created an opportunity for a life-transforming encounter.
• What if he did not climb that tree?
F. The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-22):
• The rich young ruler, seeking eternal life, was presented with the opportunity to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
• However, he chose his possessions over Christ, missing a life-altering opportunity.
• This man had an opportunity to follow Jesus, unlike Peter, he refused.
III. Embracing God's Opportunities:
A. Our Decisions Shape Our Lives:
• Our choices, both big and small, determine the course of our lives and impact those around us.
B. Paul in Athens (Acts 17):
• Paul, in Athens, seized the opportunity to share the gospel with the philosophers, demonstrating the importance of being alert and responsive.
C. A Call to Action:
• We must be careful how we walk, wise in our decisions, and alert to the opportunities God gives us.
- Preaching on Negligence in the Christian Life
- Preaching on Excuses: Moses and God's Sufficiency
- Preaching on Meekness, a Christian Virtue
Conclusion:
Let us open our eyes to the opportunities God places before us. Let us not be distracted by the mundane, but embrace the divine appointments that lead to transformation and purpose. Let us learn from the biblical examples, recognizing that even seemingly ordinary moments can become extraordinary encounters with God. May we walk wisely, making the most of every opportunity, for the glory of God. Amen.
