13. Opportunity
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Ephesian 5:15-16
Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd…
Acts 3:12
Opportunity: a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something
(Oxford Dictionary)
The thing about opportunity is that it only has value if we do something with it. God gives us multiple doors to open, every day to step through into our dreams, our purpose. We then have the choice – to open the door and step in or walk on by. Most of the time we walk on by. Why is this?
Perhaps we don’t see the door, the opportunity – our eyes and heart are focussed elsewhere? Or we could be just plain busy, consumed by the myriads of little things? Maybe we have unconsciously blocked the opportunity with words like “can’t” and “later”?
Another blocker is fear of failure, fear of the unknown holding us back from stepping into our futures. A couple of years ago, I was between jobs and had been offered a short-term contract to do something quite different but which the person offering believed I was capable of doing. The little voice in my head was working overtime suggesting why I wouldn’t be able to do the job, and it was hard work to overcome them and step into the opportunity. Funnily enough I did that role for 6 months learning on the job in preparation for a similar role some two years later! God works in mysterious ways.
Like Moses we might argue with God when he calls us to our purpose:
Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”
Exodus 3:9-16
Moses continues to argue with God in chapter 4 two more times before God lost his temper and gives the job of speaking to Pharaoh to Moses’ brother Aaron. I remember a song from 1995 called Please don’t send me to Africa by Scott Wesley Brown:
Oh Lord I am your willing servant
You know that I have been for years
I’m here in this pew every Sunday and Wednesday
I’ve stained it with many a tear
I’ve given you years of my service
I’ve always given my best
And I’ve never asked you for anything much
So Lord I deserve this request
(Chorus)
Please don’t send me to Africa
I don’t think I’ve got what it takes
I’m just a man. I’m not a Tarzan
I don’t like lions, gorillas or snakes
I’ll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don’t send me out into the bush
Where the natives are restless at night
I’ll see that the money is gathered
I’ll see that the money is sent
I’ll wash and stack the communion cups
I’ll tithe eleven percent
I’ll volunteer for the nursery
I’ll go on the youth group retreat
I’ll usher, I’ll deacon, I’ll go door to door
Just let me keep warming this seat!
Have you ever argued with God, believing you know better what is right for you?
There are many classic stories of opportunity in the Bible. Last time we talked about Esther and her opportunity to save the Israelite people from genocide. Peter was given the opportunity to lead Cornelius to Jesus (Acts 10). Ananias had the opportunity to restore Paul’s sight (Acts 9). In fact, the Book of Acts is about opportunity after opportunity which the early disciples stepped into.
What did it take for them to do that? What does it take for us to step into the opportunities God gives us?
I believe it is summed up in just one word – obedience. God lines up the opportunity, he gives us what we need to take it up, he sets up the right circumstances. But it is down to us to obey. A while ago God gave me a very distinct opportunity whilst at church. From the moment I sat down my eye was drawn to a young woman and God nudged my spirit about her getting pregnant. I didn’t know her history other than she had been through a serious illness that may have made getting pregnant difficult.
The service began – we worshipped, and my attention was constantly drawn to her. We welcomed two new babies into the church; I noticed other young couples who had recently had babies. The message focussed on Abraham and Sarah’s journey to have a child. And, at the invitation to stand for prayer this young woman stood. God had set up the opportunity, all it took was my obedience to walk over and pray a miracle over her.
Today, look for your opportunities and step in in obedience…
Prayer: Lord, I have to admit that I don’t always feel ready to step into the opportunities you give to me. I am fearful of failure. I doubt my own ability. Sometimes I just don’t want to do it. Forgive me for not trusting in you for the opportunity journey. Give me the boldness and the courage to step in.
Amen
Action: Look back over the past couple of days – when did you have the opportunity to step into something? When did you feel God’s nudge to do this or that? What did you do? How did you feel? What will you do when the next opportunity presents itself?
Journal your thoughts:
