"Opportunities"

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10

"As we have opportunity". There are times when we lack the opportunity to do good the way we would like (Philippians 4:10), but there are more opportunities around us to do good than not. Everyday there are opportunities to do good, to plant seeds of kindness, to give a cup of cold water, to edify, to encourage, to minister, to bear another's burden, to reach out in compassion, to share the love of Jesus, to be a blessing or to meet a need. You don't have to look very far, they are in our own homes, on our jobs, in our schools, in the marketplace... wherever you find people you will find the opportunity to do good.

Often we miss these opportunities because we are looking for some "big" thing to do. We want to "slay giants", be used to "part a sea", "save the people from famine" like the Bible characters. Jesus said that when he sets the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left He will reward the sheep because they fed Him when He was hungry, clothed Him when He was naked, took Him in when He was in a strange place, visited Him when He was sick and in prison. These don't sound like some "big" deeds, but Jesus must have considered it a "big" thing because He also called the ones who did not do these things goats, set them on His left hand, said they were cursed and told them to depart from Him. (Matthew 25:32-46)

Jesus was not saying that doing these works is what causes you to inherit everlasting life- that comes through faith in His shed blood on the cross to take away our sins. But He was saying that if you have put your faith in Him, if you have become a "sheep" then you will do these things because they are part of your nature now, because you know that this is what He would do, because you know that Jesus went about doing good so you will do the same that He did, because you know that you are doing it unto Him.

Today look around you, there will be opportunities to do good deeds of kindness and show love. Do them. There is no good deed that is too small. They will not go unnoticed by the Lord. He will be glorified by them.

Have a great day. Don't miss the opportunity by waiting to do something "big"-- even a "small" deed is a "big" thing to God.