This is the time of the year
when people take inventory
of their lives. We consider
promises made at the start of last
year and if we kept them. We
reflect on the resolutions we made
to ourselves, God and others; some
we kept and some we didn’t. We
think of ways to improve our lives
and make us better persons.
However, I am asking that we
consider making 2010 the year of
opportunities to do good for God
and to perform random acts of
kindness for our neighbors.
One of Satan's weapons is discouragement.One of Satan’s weapons is discouragement.
There are times
when we become weary in well
doing and become discouraged and
disappointed. Sometimes we feel
like the Psalmist when he said,
“But as for me, my feet were
almost gone; my steps had well
nigh slipped. For I was envious at
the foolish, when I saw the prosperity
of the wicked” (Ps. 73:2-3).
We can become physically, emotionally
and spiritually fatigued
when we see how cavalier some
people with whom we work, worship
and fellowship take the Lord’s
work. From the text above, Jerry
Locke highlights five reasons why
we can make this year the year of
opportunities.
Because of the strength that is
AVAILABLE: “And let us not be
weary. ….” With assignment God
gives enablement (Phil 4:13). God
never asks us to do something that
we can’t do. We were created for
good works (Eph. 2:10) and our life
should be dedicated to the glory of
God and service to our neighbor.
Because of the service that is
ADVOCATED: “in well doing…”
Notice, it did not say “in doing well”
but rather “in well doing.” Most of
our focus is doing well, that is, a
bigger house, more clothes, better
job, more money and the like. I am
not saying these are bad; I am suggesting
that these should not be the
primary aim of the believer. We are
called to well doing—love for God
and our neighbor.
Because the seasons that are
APPOINTED: “…for in due season…”
We can become creatures of
our instant gratification culture -
microwave dinners, instant potatoes,
stove top stuffing, concentrated
orange juice, HOV lanes and
one-hour photo development. But,
in God’s principle of the harvest,
some things will come in due season.
You reap what you sow—the
law of likeness. You reap more than
you sow—the law of multiplication.
You reap later than you sow—the
law of due season.
Because of the success that
is ANTICIPATED: “…we shall
reap…” What an encouraging word,
“we shall reap.” The Psalmist helps us when he
said, “They that sow in tears shall
reap in joy. He that goeth forth and
weepeth bearing precious seed,
shall doubt-less come again with
rejoicing, bearing his sheaves with
him” (Ps. 126:5-6). The Lord guarantees
us a bountiful crop!
Because the staying that is
ABSOLUTE: “…if we faint not…”
Even when we get tired if we wait
on the Lord he promised to renew
our strength. The race is not to the
swift, neither to the strong, but to
them that endureth, to them that
stay in the race, and, to them that
do not quit. For those of us who are
Kingdom-people, quitting is not an
option!
I challenge you to join with me
and make this the year of opportunities
be more dedicated to our
God and of greater service to our
neighbor.
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