Opportunities

Followers of Christ always need to be on the look out for opportunities to stand up for Christ and to speak up for his cause. And the more sinful the culture, the more critical it is that God’s people exploit those opportunities. Paul wrote, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph.5:15-17).

Any generation could use a reminder to give more careful thought to the occasions in which they could advance the kingdom of God, but in a day like ours, the command couldn’t be any more urgent. Christians need to be strategic, thoughtful, deliberate and shrewd. We need to think through our schedules and our appointments and ask ourselves, “How can I make a difference for Christ and the gospel today?”

The Bible warns that because non-Christian culture will go from “bad to worse” it is imperative that Christ’s disciples redouble their premeditated efforts to banner God’s truth, restrain evil and stand up for what is right (2Tim.3:13-17). Our efforts won’t be without opposition, but they will certainly have the strong support and enablement of our God (1Pt.3:13-18). So make plans today to shine brightly in our dark world.