Last week I spoke about being patient and waiting on God’s timing. I want to speak this week about what to do when God does provide us with opportunity. Oliver Wendell Holmes, once noted that there exists in every church people “who are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly good.” Likewise, the late bishop, J.C. Ryle, observed how many times people would reject the very things they had prayed for. The odd thing he noted was that the excuse for not embracing God’s answer was that they needed to pray about it some more just to be sure.God provides opportunities to our advantage all the time. Unless we take advantage of those opportunities provided for us, they simply will not become reality if we are constantly reaching for excuses.
"But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me." (1 Corinthians 16:8-9)
The Apostle Paul was a man always looking for the opportunities shown to him by God. He recognized a door of opportunity that the Lord opened for him in Ephesus, and he wanted to make sure that his dream of spreading the gospel there became a reality. Interestingly, he also recognized that this opportunity was going to meet with difficult opposition. There were many people in that very area who were opposing him every step of the way. Yet, Paul did not reach for excuses. Rather, he saw the opportunities in the midst of the opposition. How about you?
"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." (Revelation 3:7)
These are very encouraging words from Jesus...words that were not simply for his people back then, but words that are also for his people today. Jesus tells us that he holds the keys; meaning that he has all authority. He also tells us that He is the one who opens or shuts the doors of opportunity; meaning that He has all power.
What a deal! If God opens doors of opportunity to further the kingdom - step through - reach for the opportunity, and don't reach for excuses! I know, maybe you feel you should pray about it some more…or some of you may be thinking that you are not yet prepared…or you are too tired to take that step. Whatever your reason, Jesus has something to say to all of us.
"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and not denied my name." (Revelation 3:8)
Here’s the bottom line. If you believe that no one can stop His perfect plan, then reach for the opportunities! Will there be opposition? Maybe. Will you feel tired and overwhelmed at times? Probably. But, let me ask you this; when Jesus opens the door of opportunity, do you really want to miss the blessings on the other side?
Be heavenly minded that you may be of great good!!!
Bishop Ian
