Have you had an opportune moment crop up lately? What do I mean? Well, the dictionary definition for ‘opportune’ is ‘a moment especially convenient or appropriate for a particular action or event’. Thus, a positive opportunity, a useful, helpful moment to do or say something worth-while. And surely, it’s not wrong to be looking for opportunities.
I think the apostle Paul was always doing that—and he often urged the believers in the churches he wrote to, to do the same, e.g.
To the church in Galatia – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10) – a focus to look for opportunities to help other believers in the church, but not just them -’to all people’, that’s outsiders/un- believers too. A bit of a challenge, perhaps to us?
Then to the church in Ephesus, after exhorting them to Live as children of light … and find out what pleases the Lord., Paul adds – Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(Eph 5:8-10, 15-17) – surely here is expressed the urgency to make the most of every opportunity to live closely to and for the Lord, because we live in evil days, and if they were evil then, how much more is that true for us today! Remember opportunities can be lost if we forget how the Lord wants His children to live – carefully and with an understanding of His will.
Thirdly, Paul urges the Christians in Colosse to -Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Col 4:5-6). This challenges me as to how ready, willing and desirous am I to reach outsiders, i.e. unbelievers, for Jesus Christ? Some Bible translations use the term ‘redeeming the time’ where the NIV and others use that expression of making the most of opportunities. Re-deeming the time means to buy back, or to buy up the time, because time is short both for us, and even more so for those ‘outsiders’ – thus the need to seek to use every opportunity to reach them before it’s too late.
I’m reading at the moment a helpful book by Paul Williams, who ministers at St Helen’s Bishopsgate, entitled ‘Intentional’ ‘Evangelism that takes people to Jesus’. It’s very honest in facing the fact that many of us are fearful of talking to others about Jesus, and seeks to help us to work through overcoming such fears. He goes on to suggest how we can be prepared to take the opportunities God gives us – obviously prayer being vital in the first place. It’s a book worth reading.
I would say that, along with prayer, we first need to be taking those opportunities that Apostle Paul spoke of to the Galatians – looking for ways to do good to other believers alongside outsiders (Sandra & I are finding opportunity for that with our needy next door neighbour); That encourages us to live lives that are godly, as the Ephesians were encouraged to do (ask yourself, would others be encouraged to live for the Lord through my life?). And from the words given to the Colossians, we too can be wise and have courage to take the opportunities the Lord gives us to take people to Jesus.
Steve
Elder
February 2026
Comments on this entry are closed.