Redeem the Opportunity

Published on July 2016 | Categories: Types, Books - Non-fiction, Religion & Spirituality | Downloads: 80 | Comments: 0 | Views: 200
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God wants us to stay alert all the time to the opportunities to learn and to be agents of his love.

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REDEEM THE OPPORTU ITY By Glenn Pease

Ephesians 5:16 is translated by the King James Bible “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” More modern translations are, “ ew International Version, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” ew Living Translation, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”

We need to be alert to the opportunities that God gives us to be an example of the love of Jesus. It is so easy to just go through the routines of life and not pay attention to the opportunities that God's providence leads us to. We get so self absorbed in the goals we want to achieve that we neglect to see the role we could play in being an encouragement to another who desperately needs such encouragement. You've all heard the words of John Greenleaf Whittier, "The saddest words of tongue or pen are simply these, 'It might have been.'" Yet, the fact is, we often come away from a day's events and look back with regret because we did not say what we might have said, or did what we might have done. We were not alert to the opportunity that God gave us, and we missed the chance to be an agent of his wisdom and love. Rev. A. B. Simpson back in 1897, “Two little words are found in the Greek version here. They are translated "ton kairon" in the revised version, "Buying up for yourselves the opportunity." The two words ton kairon mean, literally, the opportunity. They do not refer to time in general, but to a special point of time, a juncture, a crisis, a moment full of possibilities and quickly passing by, which we must seize and make the best of before it has passed away. It is intimated that there are not many such moments of opportunity, because the days are evil; like a barren desert, in which, here and there, you find a flower, pluck it while you can; like a business opportunity which comes a few times in a life-time; buy it up while you have the chance. Be spiritually alert; be not unwise, but understanding what the will of God is. "Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, buying up for yourselves the opportunity." Sometimes it is a moment of time to be saved; sometimes a soul to be led to Christ; sometimes it is an occasion for love; sometimes for patience: sometimes for victory over temptation and sin. Let us redeem it.” It may be an opportunity to gain some value that we will need in the future that we miss because we do not think it worth our effort to redeem the opportunity. An unknown author tells a story to illustrate this. “ Once upon a time there was a boy named Jimmy who was walking in the desert and he found a magic lantern on a pile of rocks. Jimmy thought to himself, "Maybe if I rub this lantern, a genie will come out and grant me three wishes!" He tried it and sure enough, a genie appeared. Jimmy was real excited and asked the genie for three wishes. But the genie replied, "I'm not that kind of genie. I give advice." "Oh," said Jimmy, "then given me some advice." "Pick up as many rocks as you can and take them home with you," said the genie, just before he disappeared. "This is stupid," said Jimmy. "I have a long way to go and these rocks are heavy. I'm not going to pick up any rocks!" He did pick up one small rock, however, and stuck it in his pocket. When he finally got home, Jimmy took off his dirty clothes to be washed. His mother went through his pockets and found the rock. After examining it closely, she asked Jimmy where he got that rock. Jimmy replied, "Oh, some stupid genie told me to pick up a bunch of them, but I only picked up one.""Jimmy!" his mother cried. "This isn't a rock. This is a huge diamond! It's

worth thousands of dollars!" Unfortunately, Jimmy was never able to find that pile of rocks again. There are many things in life that seem like rocks, but in reality,they are diamonds. The classes you take in school, for example. They are a drudgery and seem like a waste of time. But someday those classes, and the education that you get, will become extremely valuable to you. And following Christ is the same way. When we serve Jesus, a lot of what we do hardly seems worth the time and effort. Sometimes being obedient to Christ is hard and may even require pain and suffering. But it's worth it. We not only are blessed by God now, but someday--when we see Jesus- those rocks become diamonds in our heavenly crowns (1 Corinthians 9:25).” obody knows how many opportunities they have missed in the past, but the good news is that the future is still filled with opportunities to learn and to love. This truth is expressed by Walter Malone in his poem from the early 1900's called Opportunity. They do me wrong who say I come no more When once I knock and fail to find you in; For every day I stand outside your door And bid you wake, and rise to fight and win. Wail not for precious chances passed away! Weep not for golden ages on the wane! Each night I burn the records of the day-At sunrise every soul is born again! Dost thou behold thy lost youth all aghast? Dost reel from righteous Retribution's blow? Then turn from blotted archives of the past And find the future's pages white as snow. Art thou a mourner? Rouse thee from thy spell; Art thou a sinner? Sins may be forgiven; Each morning gives thee wings to flee from hell, Each night a star to guide thy feet to heaven. Laugh like a boy at splendors that have sped, To vanished joys be blind and deaf and dumb; My judgments seal the dead past with its dead, But never bind a moment yet to come. Though deep in mire, wring not your hands and weep; I lend my arm to all who say "I can!" o shame-faced outcast ever sank so deep But yet might rise and be again a man!

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