"An Unexpected Opportunity"

 

“An Unexpected Opportunity”

 

This past December Karen and I went on a Caribbean cruise which stopped in five countries, four of which we’d not previously visited. The highlight was going through the first lock of the Panama Canal, something I’d wanted to do for many years. It’s an engineering marvel and was an interesting contrast to historical sites and the natural beauty of God’s creation which we also experienced. The downside was having to lose the extra pounds which accompanied us when we disembarked.

Our time at sea included Christmas Day in Costa Rica. Early on our journey we “just happened” to tune in to the ship’s TV network where we heard the Cruise Director, Jody, announce that a non-denominational Christmas Morning Service was scheduled and she asked if anyone on board would like to assist. Before we left home we’d prayed that God would use us in some way (our small group joined us in this prayer) and we took this as an answer to that request. We planned the gathering with Jody and in the process decided to add a service the evening before. God provided this unexpected opportunity to share the message of Jesus’ birth with our fellow travelers. We’ll likely never know the results in people’s lives but that’s in His very capable hands.

Think for a moment of a time in your life when you experienced a “coincidence” which was God’s leading to walk through an open door. (As a personal example, about 20 years ago I got a notice of a conference led by Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle which I’d never heard from before and haven’t since which enabled me to connect with my aunt and cousins, some of whom I’d never met.) Paul wrote that “…a great door for effective work has opened to me….” (1 Corinthians 16:9) and he was always “…ready to preach the gospel….” (Romans 1:15, NKJV) wherever he was. We never know when opportunity might knock on the door of our lives—will we answer and act when it comes?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

(For other takes on this theme check out “We Never Know” and “Ministry of the Moment”.)