There are times in life when we take advantage of a situation to promote ourselves or someone we love. At these times, our motives are purely selfish, and God sees it as sin. However, we are offered many opportunities in our day-to-day lives that we should take advantage of living our lives to show others who Jesus is, which must be a day-to-day, minute-by-minute opportunity that we must not pass up. Today, Christmas brings us opportunities that we must not pass by. So, how can we make the most of this season?
One of the first things we must do is be acutely aware of our surroundings. A good starting point is to pay attention to the people around you and find a common ground. Recently, I was in a warehouse store that sold everything from food to toys. I happen to be looking for a gift for a young friend. A lady walked up, and I asked if she had ever seen this particular toy. She replied that she had not. I shared with her that my grandchildren have grown up now, so I wasn’t sure what the young kids today would like. She shared with me that Christmas would be different this year because she had just taken custody of her grandchild. Thus, the conversation began. I asked if she had a church, told her about mine, and began to weave the gospel into our conversation. The lady was a believer, but was moving to this area to be close to other family members to help with the grandchild. We talked for 35 minutes. Christ was exalted, and a relationship started. Neither of us bought the toy, but a divine appointment was fulfilled as we talked about her situation.
I’m praying for this grandmother who is willing to sacrifice her career for this child. I am sure there will be spiritual value in this opportunity God gave. In Ephesians 5:16, we are taught to “Redeem the time, because the days are evil.” We are to make the most of every opportunity around us. However, we must train ourselves to do this. We must understand that there are no accidents in the life of a believer. God is in control, and He is constantly placing opportunities in our path to tell others about Him, but we miss them because our agenda is more important to us than the souls of people.
Another help to be aware of is to pray every morning that God would bring someone our way so that we could speak to them about Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of the opportunity. Let me remind you that everyone is a soul that Jesus died for; therefore, if you come in contact, online, through a text, or in person, you are given an opportunity. Another example is a connection I made with an old classmate through Facebook. We have not seen each other for 51 years, but we have chatted a few times online. She now has a need, a burden that she shared. It was not an accident that I reached out to her to invite her to a Christmas program. If I had said, “She lives an hour away, she won’t respond,” I would have missed the chance to pray for her, bear a burden, and exalt Jesus. In Romans 8:28, we are taught that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. The purpose is found in verse 29, that we are “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” If we are saved, He is trying to mold us to be like Jesus.
How does being like Jesus help us not miss opportunities?
- We are to live a sacrificial life. Jesus sacrificed His life for all who would believe. The King of Kings did not make His appearance on earth about Him. He made it about us. God sent His one and only because He loves us. The well-known verse John 3:16 teaches this biblical truth. Make this season about loving others by sharing Christ with others.
- Determine you will not put off or make excuses for not looking for and taking advantage of opportunities to witness. The time to reach people is now! Jesus said in John 4:35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
- Examine your life daily and keep a clean slate with God. If you see areas that are not at their best, such as study time and prayer time, repent of them and determine to change. The Psalmist David gives us this directive in Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
This season will bring you into contact with people you may only see once a year. People are everywhere, and therefore opportunities abound. For us to neglect them and make excuses is a sin. We must keep our focus on the big picture. This life is short at its best when compared to eternity. When God brings those opportunities to you, grab them and run. None of us knows when we will die or when Jesus will return. It is time to wake up, stop being self-centered, and be Christ-focused; in the end, that is the only thing that matters.
