The Gospel of John: Stop Waisting…
Don't Waste Your God-Given Opportunities
Have you ever missed an opportunity that you later regretted? Maybe it was a chance to speak to someone about your faith, to serve in a meaningful way, or to worship God with abandon. I've been thinking a lot about opportunities lately - specifically, how God is constantly opening doors for us if we're willing to see them.
After our church went through a difficult September, God showed me something powerful: He is opening doors of opportunity all around us. The Gospel is being preached boldly all over the world with strength and conviction. While many are calling this an awakening or a wake-up call, what I heard God tell me was, "I never told the church to go to sleep in the first place."
Stay Awake to God's Opportunities
Our task is simple but profound: Stay awake. Church, don't go back to sleep. We must look for every opportunity God has for us - every chance to present the gospel, every divine appointment He places before us so someone can give their life to Him.
Charles Spurgeon said, "When facing the apparent denial of my request, God gave me the opportunity to honor him by trusting his word." That's what opportunities are - chances to honor God through our trust and obedience.
Jesus never wasted opportunities. He didn't waste opportunities to speak to Pharisees and Sadducees. He didn't waste opportunities to pour into disciples or heal people. Even in His grief, as we see in John 11:35 where "Jesus wept," He taught us that it's okay for Christians to grieve.
A Bar, A Scripture, and God's Perfect Timing
Recently, I experienced this firsthand. I went to a place called Jake's Bar and Grill to watch Monday Night Football. As I sat there with my Coca-Cola, two people nearby began a loud conversation about church, filled with colorful language.
One person sent the other a text message containing a scripture. When neither of them understood what it meant, I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Not yet" when I wondered if I should intervene. Eventually, the moment came, and I asked, "What was that scripture reference y'all were talking about?"
It turned out to be 1 Corinthians 13:8 about love never failing. I explained, "If you go to 1 John 4:8, it says, 'Anyone who does not love does not know God. For God is love.' So if God is love, then God never fails. And He's patient with you, endures with you, and is kind to you."
I continued with John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. What kind of love is that, that somebody would give their son for you?"
The room got quiet. "He cares deeply for you guys," I told them, "and He wants to have relationship with you." They let me pray for them, and afterward, the bartender asked what I did for a living. When I told him I was a pastor, he couldn't believe it.
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus: Three Ways to Seize Opportunity
In John 12:1-11, we see three people who didn't waste their opportunity to honor Jesus:
Martha didn't waste her service - She served without complaining, unlike her previous encounter with Jesus. "When you're serving Jesus, you're naturally going to serve others" (Colossians 3:23).
Lazarus didn't waste the moment - After being raised from the dead, he simply sat in Jesus' presence. "There are so many times we rush through our moments in life that we forget to just sit with Jesus."
Mary didn't waste her worship - She poured expensive perfume worth a year's wages on Jesus' feet and dried them with her hair. She "displayed obedience in the face of fear" and "showed unashamed faith."
Don't Waste Your Aroma
John 12:3 tells us "the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." Our lives should spread a similar aroma. As 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, "Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere like a sweet perfume."
Life Application: Seizing Your Opportunities
Stay Spiritually Awake: Schedule regular time with Jesus. Don't let busyness rob you of His presence.
Recognize Divine Appointments: Look for opportunities to share your faith in everyday situations, even in unexpected places.
Give Your Best to God: Whether it's your time, talents, or resources (including your tithe), don't give God your leftovers.
Ignore the "Judases": When you step out in faith, there will always be voices saying "what a waste." Remember Jesus' words: "Let her alone."
Spread Your Aroma: Let your obedience and worship fill every room you enter with grace, mercy, and hope.
As Billy Graham said, "Life is a glorious opportunity if it is used to condition us for eternity. If we fail in this, though we succeed in everything else, our life will have been a failure."
What opportunities is God placing before you today?