Opportunity Knocks

Ephesians chapter 5 gives us this word of encouragement:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Into this dangerous age in which I believe there is a declining knowledge of God, He has placed His church, His people, and He calls us to walk according to the leadership of His Holy Spirit, who will open doors, who will provide opportunities for us to share His love and truth.

We remember the cross and radiate His compassion.

In Colossians 4, the apostle Paul writes that we should be in prayer - watchful and thankful:
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
 
Opportunities come to us, and it's important that we are sensitive to God's Spirit - watchful, and thankful for these opportunities, divine appointments that will come our way.
 
They were a band consisting of worship leaders from the Denver area, some of which attended the same Christian school.   They've won some awards and acquired some fans - And, last night, they had a rare opportunity on a national stage.    And, as a took a break from my tax preparation "opportunity", I began to read some tweets about last night NCAA Championship in New Orleans - but not about Kentucky & Kansas, but about The Fray.  I like The Fray, and appreciate their music and what they see as their mission, but apparently, people thought their performance of the National Anthem was less than stellar - it was even said that Roseanne Barr should step aside - there is a new "worst" rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

Now, I watched the video, and yes, it was unique, to say the least, and the guitar player seemed to be adding in some 9ths or 11ths, or a 10-1/2 to the basic chord structure.   And the Revolutionary War-style snare drum was a nice touch.   But, worst ever?   I don't know.
 
But, the point is that this band, The Fray, that I like - a lot - had an opportunity, and for whatever reason, it didn't work for them.   And, how many times do we have opportunities - open doors - for us, and we look back and wish we had taken full advantage?  
 
That's why sensitivity to the leadership of the Spirit is so important - this week, as Easter will be celebrated around the world, there are people who will go to church that never do, people who might consider the claims of Christ, who never have, and God may desire to use us to radiate His love and to even share the reason for the hope of this season, and the hope that we reflect.   I'm glad that Jesus took the opportunity to die so that we might be redeemed, I'm thankful that He was obedient to the Father all the way to the cross.