Maximize Every Opportunity

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday January 28, 2017

Topic: Maximize Every Opportunity

Text: Matthew 14:34 – 36            

In the previous chapter of Matthew (Matthew chapter 13), we read how the people of Jesus hometown despised Him and He didn’t do much miracles because of their unbelief (Devotion for Wednesday January 25th) but it was not so in the Land of Gennesaret. They were able to recognise Him and received him to their land.

In Luke chapter 5, Jesus used that Lake to preach and it was there He gave Peter and his colleagues a great catch of fish which they abandoned and followed. All those teachings and miracles were still fresh in their memory that they easily recognised Him. Thus they decided to maximize the opportunity to the fullest by bringing all manner of people with sicknesses and ailments, and they were all healed.

There are some lessons for us in our text for the day.

1) They recognised Jesus and welcomed Him. Can you recognise Jesus when you see Him or His work when you see it? Such recognition is very import to our blessings.

2) They maximized the opportunity to benefit from His presence. Most times programmes are organised and people hardly attend. They make light of the preacher and the programme. You can’t receive miracle with such mindset. You need a mindset of faith to receive.

3) They demonstrated a kind of faith that Jesus can’t deny them. They requested to touch the hem of His garment. This was similar to what the woman with the issue of blood did. If we will receive anything from God, we should approach Him with faith (Hebrews 11:6).

Often we miss so many opportunities to receive from God because we are unable to recognize when God is at work for us. We should understand that God is willing to heal, bless, save, deliver and provide, etc, for us at any moment. Don’t think that He is programmed to do some things at a particular place. As you go out today, open yourself to God and certainly, you will see Him manifesting for your good.           

Food for Thought: Recognition of the person of Jesus leads to receiving of what He has to offers.

Memory verse: Matthew 14 verse 35 - And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased.

Prayer: Help me to maximize every opportunity to benefit from your presence.

MAXIMIZING OPPORTUNITIES: Devotion for Saturday August 13, 2016

MAXIMIZING OPPORTUNITIES: Devotion for Saturday August 13, 2016

Text: 1 Samuel 17: 12 – 30           

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 17:26 – Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

We have opportunities that come our ways every day. When we maximize the opportunities they usually lead to more opportunities and blessings. Jesse had no other motive of sending David to his brothers in the Israeli army. Fortunately, David got to the Israeli camp at that critical juncture when Goliath was threatening the Israeli army. But God, who in His wisdom orders actions and affairs of men, was there to use David to serve a purpose. He made him and knew the qualities in him.

This instance wasn’t the first time David went to the Israeli camp to see his brothers. He visits them occasionally as we have in 1 Samuel 17:15. However, on this particular visit, David saw the Philistine champion, Goliath threatening the army of Israel and defying their God for 40 days. When David heard the words of Goliath and the promise made by Saul to whoever will kill Goliath, he opted to maximize the opportunity to glorify God. He saw Goliath as inferior in power compare to the fearful animals like bear and lion he had killed earlier while tending his father’s sheep.  

“In times of general formality and lukewarmness, every degree of zeal which implies readiness to go further, or to venture more in the cause of God than others, will be blamed as pride and ambition” so posited Matthew Henry. This was the case of David’s senior brother who picked offence against him for offering to fight Goliath. David saw that opportunity as appropriate and right to glorify God in the eyes of heathen nation and faithless Israel.

We do have such opportunities on daily basis to preach God’s word and to do good to others. How much do we utilise them? Do we consider what our relations will say and thus fail to speak out for God? Remember that if God can use donkey to speak, He can use any other thing to glorify His name. Will God use stones to glorify Himself when you are alive? Think about it.

Action: Use one opportunity you have this day to preach the gospel to someone.

Prayer: Help me to maximize every opportunity I have to glorify you, O Lord.