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| Redeeming Our
Opportunities |
How many times have folks said
“if I could do it all over again,” indicating
opportunities wasted? The Apostle Paul penned the wise are
“redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph.
5:16). The word “time” used by Paul is not
chronological time, but pertains to our lifetime of
opportunities. We must be redeeming our opportunities
to…
To Worship God.
Jesus said, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father
is seeking such to worship Him” (Jn. 4:23). In Order to
worship God we must assemble, which means we cannot be “forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb.10:25). For
many, one week away from the assembly of the saints turns into months
and then years away from the Lord. Redeem your opportunities to
worship God!
To Teach Our Children.
Fathers have been commanded to “not provoke your children to
anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord” (Eph. 6:4; NASV). There is a short duration of time
or opportunity in which parents are able to mold their children into
God fearing individuals. Many of parents have wasted the valuable
years of their children’s childhood. Moses instructed
Israel, “only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep
yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they
depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to
your children and your grandchildren” (Deut. 4:9).
Regarding God’s commandments Moses said, “You shall teach
them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house,
when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise
up” (Deut. 11:19). Parents, opportunities that have past are
forever gone!
To Teach The Lost. Jesus
commanded the Apostles to “Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15). The greatest need in
the world is “evangelism” as millions of people are lost
and dying in sin. Andrew redeemed an opportunity to lead someone
to Christ when he “first found his own brother Simon, and said to
him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the
Christ). And he brought him to Jesus” (Jn. 1:40-42).
The Samaritan woman redeemed an opportunity to lead folks to Christ
when she “left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said
to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever
did. Could this be the Christ?" Then they went out of the city and came
to Him” (Jn. 4:25-30). Will the lost be able to say
“you never mentioned Him to me?”
To Set A Good Example.
Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt.
5:16). Do not pass up an opportunity to set a good example for
your family, friends or the stranger.
Paul taught Timothy to “let no one despise your youth, but be an
example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in
faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). Too often opportunities to
set a good example have been squandered.
To Do Good. A
reading of Galatians 6:10 reveals, “Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the
household of faith.” The opportunities to do good are
seemingly endless. There are many ways to do good or help
someone. Anyone one of us could use our time, energy, talents or
financial resources to do good. Be wise, redeem the time doing
good!
To Study The Bible.
Timothy was taught “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Jesus said, “If ye continue in
my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). Folks
spend time reading the newspaper, a magazine, the internet and
man written books but do not redeem opportunities to read the soul
saving gospel!
To Become A Christian. How
many are like King Agrippa, “almost persuaded” (Acts.
26:28)? The Bible reveals, “Salvation has appeared to all
men” (Titus 2:11). Therefore, opportunity to become a
Christian has appeared to all men today! The Bible requires man
to hear the gospel (Mt. 17:5), Believe in God (Heb. 11:6), Repent of
sin (Acts 17:30), Confess Christ as the Son of God (Acts. 8:37), be
baptized (Mk. 16:16) and live faithful (Rev. 2:10). There is no
better time to obey God than today! Do not let another
opportunity pass to become a Christian. You may not have another.
To Repent. A
reading of Acts 8:18-22 reveals a Christian, Simon, who sinned and was
commanded to “repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray
God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven
thee.” There are many today who have obeyed the Gospel only
to have returned to a life of sin. Opportunities to repent and
turn back unto the Lord will cease to exist upon death or the return
of Christ. Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless
you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3).
How many more opportunities will we have to do these things?
Redeem your time and opportunities!
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