Opportunities Await

Do you want to know a way to truly please the heart of God? Do acts of kindness toward others - make a sacrifice of time or money or give up something you really like and bless someone else with it. Buy gifts for others, pay for someone's gas, buy a meal for a stranger, feed the poor, clothe the homeless, give away your favorite handbag to someone who could never afford it. Do all of these things with no motive of getting something in return, just do it to bless the heart of our Father. Show mercy to people and do not miss out on opportunities to be a blessing.

There are needs all around us and if for some reason you cannot find a need, ask God to show you or ask your church leaders what you can do to help out at the church. Faith without works is dead so we need to believe God for great opportunities to show His love to others, softening their hearts and creating an open door for the gospel. Preaching to someone who is hurting and has decades of pain can be difficult when they never see Christians doing what they say. Begin by meeting their practical needs and planting seeds of kindness, when you become the hands and feet of Jesus, people will take notice!

Hebrews 13:16 (TPT) We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God’s heart.

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT) Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.

There will always be poor among us, we must be good stewards of what God has given us and help them. Look what happened in Acts when the Believers were taking care of the poor:

All the believers were one in mind and heart. Selfishness was not a part of their community, for they shared everything they had with one another. The apostles gave powerful testimonies about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great measures of grace rested upon them all. Some who owned houses or land sold them and brought the proceeds before the apostles to distribute to those without. Not a single person among them was needy. Acts 4:32-35 (TPT)

Not a single person was needy! Isn't that a miracle!? Now I will note that those in need did not take the money and buy wants or alcohol/drugs and continue living a poverty lifestyle like we unfortunately see a lot of today in America. They became a part of the community of Believers and selfishness was not a way of life for them. They shared what they had, preached their testimonies and those that received were thankful.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (TPT) And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. In other words, it was through the Anointed One that God was shepherding the world, not even keeping records of their transgressions, and he has entrusted to us the ministry of opening the door of reconciliation to God. We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.”

We have been given a ministry of reconciliation - we are to bring the lost back to God! This means we need to be pouring into the lives of those God has entrusted to us and teach the Word of God to them through discipleship. The Holy Spirit will speak through us as long as we present a yielded heart! Opportunities are waiting - bring people back to God!