Friday... Another opportunity.

I am reading in the gospel of Matthew and I came across this verse this morning. In chapter 10 the latter part of verse 18 (NLT) it says this, "But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and unbelievers about me." And that is always a great thing to be able to do. It really is. But we too many times think that this opportunity comes after something great has happened to us. He has brought us through something unbelievable.

But look at what it says in verses 17-18, "But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts ands will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and unbelievers about me." Maybe the difficulties we are going through are great opportunities for God through us to show what a difference he makes in our lives.

Look at this. Verses 19-20 says, "When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right thing to say at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking - it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

In our times of injustice, God has something to say. Our humanity also has something to say but usually that doesn't make God look good. So in those times when we want to go on the internet and blast every one, maybe we need to stop and see if God has something to say through us.

David says in Psalm 5:8, "Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow."

Let's stop and see this as a great opportunity for God to say something through us and to not let his and our enemies conquer us. Our responses in those bad times do not always make God look good. And that is the Evil One's plan but God sees them as great opportunities for him to speak through us and show what he, our Lord is really like.

Now here is this 10th chapter Jesus was sending out his twelve apostles. He said in verse 16, "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves" and then in verse 17 he says, "But beware." Yes, life has it's injustices but he says they are great opportunities to tell about him.

What we are going through and will go through are great opportunities for God's Spirit through us to tell unbelievers about him. So in those major difficult times, let's stop and let his Spirit speak in and through us. Let's use them as great opportunities to tell about him. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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