Seize The Moment

Monday, September 18, 2000

Romans 10:11-17

    Everyone who calls, Help, God! gets help.

    But how can people call for help if they don't know whom to trust? And how can they know whom to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That's why Scripture exclaims,

      A sight to take your breath away!
      Grand processions of people
        telling all the good things of God!

    But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another, "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?" The point is, Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to. (MSG)

My dog Toby is a regular rascal! He never misses an opportunity — an opportunity to seize and munch down my lunch, that is! As he often rides in the car with me, I make a point of locking my meal in the trunk until I am ready to eat. Recently, I returned to my vehicle after a meeting and decided to enjoy a snack. Retrieving my dinner I took out some fruit, then placed my still full lunch bag on the floor of the passenger side. Toby didn't appear to budge from his slumber.

At my next destination, I quickly hopped out, delivered my order and was back to the car in a flash. Toby was quietly licking his chops as I arrived. I had thought that he wasn't paying attention when I placed my lunch bag within his reach. Needless to say, I was wrong and he took the opportunity to seize the moment the minute I was out of sight!

Often when we seek to share the message, the Good News of God's love, people don't seem to be listening. Sometimes they even openly reject or ridicule our attempts. When this happens, we can become discouraged as messengers of reconciliation and, like Isaiah, we may discover ourselves asking, "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?"

Such questions, however, are not the issue. The real issue revolves around the fact that "unless Christ's Word is preached," people will not have opportunity to listen. And if they have no opportunity to listen, they cannot come to trust the One who knows and loves them perfectly.

Today, if feeling that witness for Jesus is in vain, let's remember that much like Toby and my lunch, many people, when the "meal" of salvation is placed before them, pretend not to be interested. Later, however, when they are alone, they are quick to seize the moment to partake of the Bread of Life which our faithfulness has left within their reach.

Prayer: O Lord, how rich and merciful is your love. How good is the taste of your salvation. Encourage and remind our hearts this day, as we seek to share the Bread of Life with others, that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more that we could ever hope, or dream, more even than our highest prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:19b-20 – And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (NIV)

Ephesians 3:20-21 – Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (NIV)

John 6:35 – Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (NIV)

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada

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