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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
Would you consider this thought with me on this Monday morning…
We know God created the entire Universe and set in motion all the natural laws like gravity, planet orbits, rotation of the earth setting exact time, seasons, and all the essentials required so humans can live on planet earth… like oxygen production and fresh water supply etc.
We know God made Adam and then Eve, the first two humans and then established human procreation as a normal process with men and women.
But here’s my question for us today: After God did all that, did He just step back and let everything since then just happen according to the natural processes He had put in place or is God still very much involved in sustaining that which He has created? Is every child conceived simply the result of the natural reproductive process, or is God personally involved in the conception and fetal development of EVERY infant?
Then if we take it one step further… as we look around our world in these months, would you agree so many things seem out of control? Yet, two weeks ago we looked at God’s Sovereignty both OVER all and IN all. So this week let’s look closely at this word “OPPORTUNITY”, which is the letter “O” in our 7 week journey developing the concept of R E S T O R E as we seek God’s help in the global chaos.
I propose to you that the Bible tells us God is not only Sovereign OVER all He has created, but God is very much involved with our human race in the DAILY realities of our chaotic world. In fact I invite us to wrestle with this thought: Each day, multiple times a day, the situations of our lives present you and me with OPPORTUNITIES. Choices need to be made when facing opportunities, and those choices determine the path of life you are walking, and define the ‘vapor trail’ (legacy & reputation) of your life which you are leaving behind.
I assume most of us have seen ‘vapor trails’ in the sky flowing out behind jet airplanes. They mark the flight path of the plane, so we can look back across the sky many miles to see where the plane has been. So it is in your life and mine. We leave a visible trail behind us, like an airplane, so both we, and those who know us, can look back and see the path we’ve walked and the reputation and legacy we are building with each new day of our lives.
Throughout history and the human story in the Bible, we see the evidence of this truth: “The eyes of the LORD roam to and fro across the whole earth, looking to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) And then we have to add this truth found in Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
And those two truths are woven, like a cord of three strands, with this great truth: “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” (Ps. 33:11) And what is that great, unchanging purpose of God for all humanity, of all generations, in all places? All through the Bible we see it, and here it is in one simple statement: “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised…” (Ps. 113:2)
Here’s a very powerful word the Apostle Paul wrote to his friends in Ephesus: “Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every OPPORTUNITY, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Eph. 5:15-17) All through the Bible we see God inviting normal people like you and me to make wise choices when facing opportunities HE places before them, and when they do, God then involves them in accomplishing His purposes here on earth, sometimes in very strategic ways. I believe that is God’s desire for you and me, His people, in these very chaotic days, no matter where you live in the world!
Look with me at Mark chapter 1 this week. Mark was a young teenager in the times of Jesus and His disciples and we assume he heard Jesus teach and watched some of the miracles. Some believe Mark is referring to himself as the young man following Jesus secretly the night Jesus was arrested, and is the boy who had an embarrassing experience recorded in Mark 14:51,52. Mark lived in Jerusalem according to Acts 12:12 and we know Mark experienced different missionary trips with Peter, Paul, and Barnabas. Mark was led by the Holy Spirit to write the shortest of the Gospel accounts, and maybe the first. Mark writes like a millennial, action packed and right to the point.
Beginning in Mark 1:14 Mark tells us times were chaotic just like today. John the Baptist was the flamboyant preacher who had captivated everyone’s attention, including both the religious and political leaders of his day. He had publicly accused the Jewish king Herod of living in adultery with his brother’s wife, and John had been arrested. Matthew gives us the horrific details of how John was later beheaded as a result of a foolish promise Herod made at a dinner party. (Matt. 14:3-7)
John’s arrest had Jerusalem in an uproar. Fear had spread among those impacted by John’s preaching and they wondered who might fill the void left by John. This was an OPPORTUNITY into which Jesus stepped. It was a strategic moment in history. Mark reports it like this: “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ He said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:14,15)
I think it’s safe to say very, very few people, if any, understood the eternal significance of this moment. To most people, a new voice had stepped up to the microphone…not unlike in our day. It happens all the time. New voices, new names, new faces… they are politicians, entertainers, athletes, business people, diplomats, and sometimes agitators or people just seeking the spotlight.
So, here are two vital questions I’d like to leave you with today... First, which voices have your attention and are influential in your life? Why?
Second question… when is the last time God presented you with an opportunity to SPEAK truth, hope, help to people in the void? What did you do in that moment of opportunity? Why or why not?
We’re going to have a great week together my friends. The concept of “Walking with Jesus” everyday, is taken from this section of Scripture we’re looking at this week, so I’m excited to dig in with you. For today… I urge you to watch for the opportunities God might open before you and then take careful note… what do the people need? What type of voice will be most helpful in these days… another politician, an athlete, an entertainer, an angry rioter… or someone who has been with Jesus?
Oh Lord Jesus thank you that everyday You open opportunities before us, and our choices, in that moment, the life path that we’re walking and the ‘vapor trail’ we are leaving behind. Help me, and my friends today, to recognize when You open a door of opportunity before us. What do the people need?
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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