-January 2, 2023-
Good morning, happy Monday,
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
(Galatians 6:10).
Paul’s letters always have of pattern of doctrine in the first part and then practical application in the latter part. As we are now into the second day of the year, let us pause and ponder how best to take advantage of every opportunity to serve the Lord, share the Lord with those who are unsaved, and lend a helping hand to those in need. This year, like every year, will present opportunities that we must seize. If we miss an opportunity that God gives us, we will never have exact same opportunity again. A golden opportunity is defined as, “a excellent chance to do or get something.”
This year let us be more cognizant of the opportunities that God gives us and take full advantage to testify of Him and witness for Him. May we take all the opportunities to do good to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ. It requires our time, our resources, and even our money. We remember that the Good Samaritan was the only one of the three men who passed by the badly wounded man on the road and helped him. The other two, one a Levite and the other a priest missed the opportunity to help.
A certain blind man was sitting by the road begging when heard a multitude passing by, so he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. This was his opportunity to be given his sight and he took full advantage of it by calling out to Jesus. Our Savior gave him his sight and he followed Jesus and glorified God. When Jesus passed through Jericho, Zacchaeus didn’t miss the opportunity to see Jesus. He climbed up a sycamore tree since he was a short man; Jesus stopped and spoke to him. He repented of sins and invited Him into his home along with his friends and relatives. Peter missed the opportunity to identify with Christ and denied Him three times. He redeemed himself on the day of Pentecost and preached the gospel and stood up for the Lord to the Jewish authorities.
In Ephesians 5:15-16, Paul wrote, “See then you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” To redeem the time, is to make the best use of it by making the most of our opportunities. May the Lord help us to be effective for Him each day of 2023.
Have a blessed day as the holidays pass and we move forward into the year. Stay safe and healthy.
Looking to Jesus for His leading and guiding,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 