Take the Opportunity
Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? Acts 3:12
Have you ever missed out on an opportunity? Maybe it was on a job or promotion at work? Maybe you missed a big sale or lost out on a large purchase. How about in a relationship or with a close friend? We all have missed opportunities in life, some by choice and some we have no say in at all. My most disappointing missed opportunities are when I pass up on a leading from the holy spirit. It has happened like when He gives me an unction to pray with some one and I debate that the person probably has many people praying for them already or if I see someone needing money, but I don’t’ want to take the time to give. I always regret it when the time is passed but then I can do nothing about it. The good news is those random occasions always come back around and hopefully I get it right the next time.
In today’s reading, Peter seized the opportunity he had that day at the gate beautiful. After the lame man was healed by the name of Jesus, Peter taught the crowd of on-lookers about the power that Jesus had left after He ascended into heaven. We know Peter missed opportunities before then because many were recorded for us in the gospels, but thank goodness, the opportunities kept coming and the Holy Spirit didn’t give up on Peter when he missed it.
The truth is, the Holy Spirit is always presenting us with moments to reach people. You cannot turn Him off if you are a believer, but you must take time to listen. You have to first learn what those promptings and nudges sound like in your heart and in your thoughts. Mostly, you will recognize His leading by just doing the right thing or taking time to love and encourage people. Let me put it this way . . . The Holy Spirit of God is never calling you to ignore people. He is never telling you, do not pray with someone. He is never saying don’t share or give to others and He never tells you to give some one a piece of your mind. What He does do is show us examples in the scriptures and that is the same way He sounds today in your heart.
So, the next time you are face with the option to give someone a helping hand or make up an excuse why you are not available, the next time you are faced with speaking a kind and encouraging word or walking quickly by to complete your next task, consider the prompting you sense inside from Him. Don’t miss the opportunities God is putting before you today, when you choose the people option, you are following His plan. You are in this world to rescue people and you can be sure that when you choose the people, you will never have regrets.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 3:11-26
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.
25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
The Daily Dose 