The Scripture reading speaks of a tribe in Israel that was peculiar because they understood times and seasons, and knew what they ought to do. It is vitally important to understand times and seasons, because the presence or absence of this understanding often determines wealth or poverty…. For every season that God brings our way, we ought to respond appropriately in order to maximise that season.
God gives us opportunities through which our needs can be fulfilled and satisfied. In addition, He expects us to maximise the opportunities He brings our way. This means that when God gives us opportunities, it is our responsibility to maximise them. Successful people are simply people who utilise their opportunities well. It is important not to despise opportunities, because they determine the outcome of our lives.
In fact, every day when we open our eyes in the morning and get up out of our beds, we are presented with an opportunity called “today”…. Going to Church to worship is also an opportunity, and those who understand this receive tremendous blessings from the experience.
In Genesis 18: 2, Abraham seized the moment. He literally ran to welcome the Lord and eagerly received Him in his home. This was the result of discernment on Abraham’s part; a quality that every believer should pray for. Abraham had probably sat in that spot on previous days, but this particular day was different, and because he sensed it, he took hold of the blessings that came with hosting the Lord.
The truth is that no two days are the same; if we stay focused on the pain of yesterday, we deny ourselves of the blessings of today. Our past should not deprive us of the glory in our future.
Zacchaeus’s story shows us how to respond to opportunities, even if we have limitations. In Zacchaeus’s case, his desire was to see the Lord, but his short stature and the pressing crowd were limitations for him. However, he didn’t give up on his desire, or lament and complain about the limitations. Instead, he ran ahead and climbed a tree! Some may think of his behaviour as being extreme, but for Zacchaeus, seeing Jesus was the ultimate goal of life. Indeed, seeing Jesus should also be our ultimate goal.
In order to seize each moment and utilise the opportunities the Lord presents, here are three things that we ought to note-
- We must “go beyond” in our thoughts… by choosing our thoughts carefully, and refusing to dwell on our perceived limitations.
- We must “go beyond” in our words… by speaking possibility, speaking positively, and saying things that are in line with the Word of God.
- We must “go beyond” in our actions…by choosing to advance and make progress despite negative circumstances or limitations.