Missed Opportunities
Romans 10:14 (NLT) But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?
Tonight my heart is filled with repentance. I'm realizing all of the opportunities I have missed to share God's love with a lost and dying world. So often I get into such a hurry to get things accomplished, that I forget to stay pliable in the Lord's hands and sensitive to His Spirit.
Yes, there's times that I step back and listen for the voice of the Spirit. I feel His promptings and act accordingly. "Go tell that person I love them, pay for their meal and let them know how I feel about them. They need prayer or they need you to share the Gospel right now." I recognize His voice and it's my hearts desire to please Him and lead others to Jesus.
There's no greater blessing than to be the voice that God uses to speak to those that desperately need Him. Likewise, there's no greater joy than to watch as the tears flow because the words you spoke were exactly what they needed at that very moment. Not because of your own keen sense or amazing wisdom...but simply because you allowed the Holy Spirit to have His way in using you to do His will and manifest His presence through you... absolutely no greater thrill. Then there's the incredible opportunity of leading them to Christ... mind blown!!! A life completely altered and set on track for eternity... incredible!
What about those moments when we are fully focused on our own agenda and the task at hand is consuming our attention? Oh, it's not on purpose... it's this life we are living, full throttle with little time to even catch a breath... what about that? As we're so busy doing all of these important things, how many opportunities are we missing? Is there someone standing next to us in the grocery line buying their last meal before they end their life? Did the cashier just find out she has cancer or has she lost a child? Regardless of what they are going through... chances are you will cross paths with many people throughout your day who are hurting, desperate and on a slippery slope to hell... most never having been confronted with the Gospel message. No one wants to put them on the spot, embarrass or offend them... right? Hmmm...
This devotion is just a reminder to go through each day with eyes wide open. Be consciously sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and simply follow His lead. Yes, it can be scary at times, but it's the greatest adventure of our Christian lives! To partner with God and become an instrument He uses to set people free and lead them to His Son! There's nothing like it! Look around... who's He asking you to speak to or love on today?
2 Corinthians 5:20 (TPT) 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.”
Matthew 9:35-37 (NKJV) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
