Pastor column: Making the most of your opportunities

In the movie “Miracle,” Coach Herb Brooks of the USA Olympic Hockey Team said just before the USA skated against Russia (the number 1 hockey team in the world), “Great moments are born out of great opportunities.”

In Ephesians 5, Paul wrote, “Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (vs. 15-17). Paul is pretty straightforward. We need to make the most of every opportunity, and there’s three divine opportunities available to everyone of us today.

First, accentuate the whole story. There’s an important word in verse 15; the word is “then.” This word refers to what God is saying in the preceding verses 8-10: “For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” As Christians, we’re to know the whole story. We were once in darkness, but because of what Jesus came to earth to accomplish, we now live in light. And because of that, there should be a difference in how we go about our day-to-day living. You must cultivate every divine opportunity that’s available to you to get closer to the Lord each day.

Second, communicate the whole story. Verse 17 says to “understand what the Lord’s will is.” God’s will is that everyone will hear the good news of Jesus and surrender their hearts to Him. Every day God puts people across your path who are hurting and lost. They need to hear that God can and will make a difference in their lives. The Lord’s not asking you to articulate theology but simply share, to elaborate on your experience with an Almighty God, to tell others what Jesus means to you. Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt if you threw in John 3:16. Open your eyes — divine opportunities are all around you.

Lastly, demonstrate the whole story. Lip service doesn’t cut it. All lip service does is reinforce the stereotype that Christians are as shallow as the rest of the world. And that doesn’t please Jesus at all. Show people that you do more than talk a good talk. Show them by your consistent life in Christ that you really live the difference — in goodness, righteousness and truth. To live the difference means you must separate yourself from the people of sin, the places of sin and the pleasures of sin. It means you must illustrate that you are totally sold out to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It means that you must dedicate your life with daily determination to doing God’s will and that your walk, witness and worship is all about pleasing Him.

Everyday God sends you divine opportunities. Are you living the difference God has made in your life and sharing the whole gospel story?

Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Making the most of your opportunities