Opportunities

As I read through the book of Acts it amazes me how the early believers looked for every and any opportunity to share the gospel.  In every-day life, in their travels, in good times and in bad times.  They constantly were witnessing on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They were willing to share the gospel with enemies just as well as they were sharing it with friends.  In the midst of a midnight jailbreak an opportunity arose for Paul and Silas to escape with their lives out of wrongful imprisonment.  But in that moment an even better opportunity arose:

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” ²⁹ And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Acts 16:25-31)

What an amazing testimony!  If Paul and Silas hadn’t been constantly open and looking for opportunities to share the gospel, they would have missed this one and many lives would not have been changed.  But because they were obedient to the Holy Spirit and bold in their faith – God did an amazing work right in front of them.

It left me asking myself, “Am I constantly looking for open opportunities to share the gospel?”

Take heart and encouragement from the early believers in the book of Acts.  Be ready, open and looking for opportunities today.  Every day.  Every moment.

-Pastor Tom