Opportunity

by Gina Beacham

The Word:
"Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and He is to be held in awe above all gods." - I Chronicles 16:23-25

The Story:
Recently, I reflected on the Christian life. I pondered what it meant to be an ambassador of God. Does it mean I go out into the world and force people to choose Christ? Does it mean I only encourage other believers within the walls of the church? The answer to my questions had to be absolutely not! Thus, I came to a conclusion.

The Reflection:
As an ambassador of God, I am to proclaim His truth and stand up for Him as the Holy Spirit leads. If given the opportunity, I am to go out into all the earth and tell of the Lord and His marvelous light and truth. If given the opportunity, I am to stand firm on His principles even if at times it means to stand alone. For Christ in His own words said, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?" (Matt 16:26)

The Application:
Saints, we have been given the opportunity. Each day we are given breath we have the opportunity to be a light and stand for truth. Our hearts should consistently be consumed with the things of God. In Matthew 16:23, Jesus told Peter, "Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

Here are a few questions to ponder:
1. Have I embraced the ways of the world and left God's principles within the walls of the church?
2. Have I left passion for belief up to the Mormon, Buddhist, or even the environmentalist?
3. What is God's place in my life?
4. Should God consume me or just fit?

The Prayer:
Lord, I pray that we live out I Chronicles 16. Help us to be bold and stand for truth even when we must stand alone. Help us to include you in every part of our lives. When given the opportunity, help us to go beyond the norm and hold you in awe above all things.