Don't Miss Your Opportunity

During our lifetimes we are presented with many opportunities to do certain things.  We can travel to anywhere in the world if we have the money and time to do so.  We can go back to college and get a degree if we can afford it.  We can take part in a missionary trip if we want to.  We can share the gospel of Jesus Christ with our families, friends, or our co-workers.  We all have opportunities to do something good and meaningful in our lives.

I was thinking about opportunities as I sat down to write this blog posting for tonight.  My mind also went to missed opportunities.  We have all had some of those, haven't we?  We may not want to talk about them or even try remember them, but those memories are still there.  I remember several missed opportunities in my life.  I was either too shy, didn't speak up when I should have, or just gave up to quickly. 

I remember reading in the Bible about the time when Jesus went back to the town where He grew up to teach the people about who He really was.  We can find that account in Matthew 13:53-58 which  can be found at this link:

http://www.biblestudytools.com/passage/?q=matthew+13:53-58

When Jesus entered His home town He started to teach in the local synagogue.  The people knew Him there since He was a little boy.  They thought they knew Him anyway.  They should have known Him probably would be a better way of putting it.  Instead of rejoicing that the Messiah was in their midst they ended up saying, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?  Isn't this the carpenter's son?  Isn't his mother's name Mary?  Aren't his brother's James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?  Aren't all his sisters with us?  Where did this man get all these things?"  Then after all these questions among themselves we are told that they took offense at Jesus.

Isn't that the way we all act sometimes.  We think we know someone so well that we put them in a box and if they step out of that box it blows our minds.  For example let's say you weren't used to seeing me telling jokes or being funny and laughing.  If you did not know that side of me you would probably be shocked or think I had gone off the rocker sorta speak or worse. 

The towns people thought they knew Jesus.  They saw Him grow up in their synagogue.  He was just a nice Jewish boy they thought.  When Jesus tried to tell them that He was the promised Messiah they were offended at Him, isn't that sad.

These people had a great opportunity staring them right in the face and they missed it.  The Son of the Living God was right there in their midst and they failed to see and believe.

There are many people around us today that are making the same mistake as the towns people did back then.  They fail to see Jesus as who He says He is.

Jesus Christ is the Son of the True Living God.  Jesus offers each one of us forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.  He asks that we believe Him and receive that forgiveness.  He shed His blood on a cruel rugged cross for you and me.

He wants us to repent of our sins and trust Him as our Lord and Savior.  He is the only way into to Heaven.

Come to Jesus before it is too late.

Don't miss your opportunity!

Lord,
We thank You for You love and mercy.
We ask that touch those who are facing illnesses and heal them right where they are.
I pray that You will touch those who are addicted to something and break them free.
I pray that You will touch those who doubt and bring them to faith in You.
Thank You for all You do.
In Jesus name,
Amen.