Make the Most of God’s Opportunities

The other day, I asked myself the question, “How often do I turn conversation with others to biblical conversation?” Working at a church, I have much opportunity for biblical conversation with the ladies I work with and other church members. I have the opportunity to sing in choir, filled with biblical songs. Most of my friends are Christ followers, but some are not. My boyfriend and I talk and pray up a storm about Jesus and His lovingkindness. My parents love the Lord, and we often have deep, biblical conversation. And that’s all wonderful! But what about the people in my life who I know do not belong to the Lord and have refused Him and really have no interest in biblical conversation? What about strangers, for that matter, that I encounter at coffee shops, my gym, restaurants, the grocery store?

I’m convicted to do a better job with seizing the opportunities ALL AROUND ME to proclaim God’s glory and story of redemption, which only comes by grace through faith in His beloved Son–fully God and fully man–Jesus Christ! While I can’t save anyone and certainly don’t want to force Christianity down anyone’s throat, Christ followers are commanded to spread the Gospel…the Good News!

If you’re in the same boat as me, here are some tips/instruction from Colossians 4 and a couple of extra added by me (things I need to work on!) that will help you make the most of God’s opportunities:

1. Conduct yourselves with wisdom. …Meaning, be on the alert. Observe the situation. Observe the conversation. Slow down and listen as you are talking to someone. The Holy Spirit will lead you at the right time to move into biblical conversation. Surrender to His nudging. You won’t have to force the conversation, but you will have to be courageous enough to step forward in faith once the opportunity presents itself.
2. Let your speech be with grace…seasoned with salt. ‘Salt’ is Truth and love combined. We all must stand firm. His Word is Truth…every part. Even the parts that the world rejects. The truth is…the truth stings. When Light exposes the darkness, it does not feel good. It is not meant to feel good. That’s because all of us must recognize we are sinners in desperate need of the Savior before we can come to salvation. Truth is black or white, not gray. We must speak the Truth, even if we are turned away for it. On the other side of the token, we must speak the Truth in love. But this doesn’t mean we present a watered down Gospel, which is no gospel at all. However, we are to be salt, not sugar. Therefore, love and Truth go hand-in-hand.
3. Take heed to the ministry which God has given to you. What ministry? Your very life! So it makes sense, then, that in every aspect of our lives, God will give us opportunity to witness, even in the mundane task of going to the grocery store. Scripture says, “…you are a letter of Christ…” (II Cor. 3:3). God doesn’t just come first in the morning or at church on Sunday; He comes first in every area of our lives. It is not just our words that bear witness to His goodness but our attitudes, our actions, and our acts of service. In what areas of your life can you cultivate to look more like Jesus?
4. Pray for opportunities to move toward biblical conversation. God loves our prayers. He hears them. He will answer. Keep asking God for opportunities, with a willing heart ready to seize them when…not if…but when they come.
5. Finally, be more people-oriented, rather than task oriented. And here’s where I struggle. It’s so easy for me to become so bogged down by my list of plans, so laser-focused on checking off boxes, that I wouldn’t know an opportunity if it slapped me in the face. If you struggle with that, I get it. Trust me. But hey, we all have busy seasons. Nowhere in the Bible does God state that busy seasons or busy days are an excuse to stop being a witness. The two greatest commands in all scripture are to love God and love others. Let’s learn how to prioritize people over task lists. Trust that God will equip you for each day, take a deep breath, and slow down. Because busy seasons do not have to create busy spirits within us. Love God. Love people. Go and tell. Seek first the kingdom of God… And seize the opportunities the Lord gives you.

Up Next: “FOLLOW JESUS & WAIT ON HIM…”

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