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Perspective:-
Opportunity: Seized or Missed?
Once again we are coming to the end of another year. Most Christians will have a special time of praise and thanksgiving, remembering the wonderful ways of God in the past and seeking His continued blessings for a happy new year.
Definitely, a grateful heart and a prayerful attitude will ensure a satisfied and peaceful life ahead. However, instead of making this a ritualistic yearly service it would be more appropriate if we would use this occasion for a sincere evaluation of how wisely we used our time. Such a personal spiritual exercise will help us to make necessary amendments, trusting in the Lord.
Extended time
We should not forget that the Lord in His grace and mercy extends our life so that we may become more fruitful and useful for the Lord. This becomes even more imperative when we realize the fact that hundreds of God’s people have been called Home in the recent past, and some of us have been left behind with a definite purpose.
That is exactly what the Lord Jesus teaches in Luke Chapter 13 through the parable of a master who sought to cut down a fruitless tree. Christ wants us to realize that He expects fruits and hence He continues to give us opportunities and needed resources. Therefore brethren, let’s not neglect the expression, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also’! (Luke 13:8)
Often we realize the value of time and opportunity only when they are gone. That’s why it’s good to learn lessons from others. Never forget that success or failure basically depends on how wise we are in making use of our opportunities. Let us briefly consider few tales of people who missed golden opportunities and regretted later, so that we may not repeat their mistakes.
1. The rich man who failed to make sure of his eternity, Luke 16:25
We believe the Lord Jesus is referring here to a true story. (Luke 16: 19 – 31) This wealthy Jewish man who ended up in the Hades laments now. Father Abraham reminds him, “'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things...” (v. 25) Abraham further tells him of the impossibility of any help at this stage. (v. 26) It was not because he was rich, but while on earth he miserably failed to trust the Lord for the forgiveness of his sins. He never bothered to consider the condition of his life after death. He never confessed his sins or sought forgiveness.
Millions today make the same mistake, while simply going on enjoying the pleasures of this world. They may be religious who faithfully follow the rituals, but never take time to examine their true spiritual status according to God’s holy word. More than anything else, our priority must be to ->>>More
Out line:-
Five Points of Time
- The fullness of the time, Gal 4:4 – The birth of Christ.
- The consummation of the ages, Heb 9:26 – The cross of Christ.
- The end of the age, Matt 13:39 – Close of the age of grace.
- The fullness of times, Eph. 1:10 – The millennium.
- The end of time, 1Cor 15: 24 – The eternal kingdom.
- W.W.F
Anecdote: -
Lost Rope
On the English coast there are men who climb the cliffs for eggs. They are let down by ropes and fill their baskets as they stand on projecting ledges. One man as he began to collect happened to let the rope slip, and there he stood helpless as the rope swung out – a hundred feet from the top of the cliff, and many more from the angry sea below him.
Instinctively he knew that he must catch that rope as it swung back the first time, because it then swung nearer to him than it would again, and losing it meant starvation and dizziness and a plunge into the sea below.
So watching intently, he calculated its speed where it would swing in and as it came he jumped for it, and – caught it. If he had not done it then he would never have done it.
— Source: Unknown
Practical: -
The Role of Church Members
By Dr. Justus Samuel
In the first place, each believer must recognize that he/she is also in the ministry, speaking in general terms. Those who serve and minister the word are doing a piece of service to achieve this very end. In Ephesians 4: 12 - 13, we are introduced into this purpose, even when there is the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic and pastoral-teaching ministry, viewing the churches’ ministry as a whole.
Ministry
This ministry is for equipping the saints, for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, to enable them to reach spiritual maturity and conformity to the likeness of the Master. This is a misunderstood verse. In the first place, we believe that we avail of the ministry of the apostles and prophets – not that these gifts are literally present today, but we avail of the written Word in the New Testament where we have such ministry. The ministry of the servants of God is not designed to sharpen their gifts, but to make each brother and sister realize his/her role as a witness for Christ. The local church is in the ministry rather than the preacher. He must encourage the process through a ministry of encouragement. It is not a question of encouraging every Tom, Dick and Harry to be up every meeting (they will not do it if they are mature.)
Natural development
Proverbs 18:16 tells us, “A man’s gift makes room for him.” This means a gradual development, not a monstrosity, an unnatural development. You should always be cautious of a stripling, of recent years (a recent convert in terms of 1Tim. 3:6.) We sometimes observe a young man with the ‘gift of the gab’ seen addressing a major conference comprising believers of maturity. Such a thing is bound to harm the performer more than the listener.
No, there must be natural growth – infancy, childhood, adolescence, youth and manhood. You cannot shortcut the process. In the spiritual world there are no prodigies. It has been said of poet Coleridge ->>>More
Reflections: -
Moses’s Retrospection, Deuteronomy 31: 1 – 13
By Dr. Stewart McNaught
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses looked back over the way that they had come so as to prepare them to go forward. He reminded them of what God had ordered in the past so that they would know how to order their lives in the future. He retraced the story of the wilderness to prepare them for the Promised Land. A looking back to remember should also involve looking forward. Moses was now ready for his entrance into the presence of God. He would soon make his journey to Mt. Nebo and there be at home with his God, the Lord. Before he set out on his last journey he made preparations for his departure. He could not leave the people of Israel to their own devices. A good leader should always prepare a successor.
Preparation, Deut. 31
In this chapter, Joshua is appointed as successor to Moses and he becomes the leader of Israel. It could have been said that Joshua was fitted for this position from the moment he distinguished himself in the battle with the Amalekites, Exo. 17:9. Joshua had been Moses’ right hand man from that time on, Exo. 32:17. Moses had waited before the Lord in prayer before he nominated Joshua as his successor, Number 27: 15 – 20. When Moses was ready to go to Mt. Nebo he called for Joshua and set him before the people as their new leader, Deut. 31: 7, 8.
Promise, Deut. 31:6
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them.” This word, “fear not” is one of the great words of God to His people. It was God’s word of encouragement to Abraham, Gen 15:1; it was the Lord Jesus’ constant word to His disciples, Matt. 10:26; Luke 12:32. It is a word that the Lord’s servants need today.
It is a word of encouragement, “Do not be afraid of circumstances, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” It is a word of exhortation, “Go on and do it, you can, for I am with you.” It is a word that enables, “Have not I commanded you?” The Christian need not be afraid of anything material. God is for us and who can be against us?
The word is found ten times in the book of Deuteronomy, 1:21; 3:2, 22; 20:3; 31: 6, 8. It is found in the call to the people to re-gather and go on to the Promised Land; it is Moses’ constant exhortation to the people in all their trials and difficulties; it is Moses’ final world to Joshua. If believers today could only grasp the significance of this promise how much stronger ->>>More
Worthy Quotes:-
Opportunity
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
__________ Winston S. Churchill
“Opportunities, like eggs, come one at a time”
__________ Josh Billings
God never gives strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the minute.
__________________ Oswald Chambers
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