Jan. 1- UE 4

The Unexpected Adventure "Those Imperfect Opportunities" Psalm 90:12

Yet another lesson reaffirmed yesterday.  If I don't get on the ball and get my quiet time and blog entry done in the morning, it ain't gonna' happen.  Good intentions don't get the cookies baked!

One of  the things I particularly like about the UE is that the authors share their failures as well as successes.  Today's reading was one of those failures.  "Those Imperfect Opportunities" recounts Mark's failure to witness to a high school friend after they reconnected as adults.  Mark had made plans to talk to the friend about Christ.  He had prayed for the perfect timing to initiate a Kingdom conversation.  His intentions were of the highest order.  Yet, he never had the conversation.

Mark balances this "seize the day" attitude with the realization that we must still be discerning about choosing the place and time.  While you are making a presentation at work might not be the best time to ask the boss, "Hey Stan, you going to hell or what?"  Right in the middle of the delivery of your second child is probably not the opportune moment to ask the doctor "Hey doc, what do you think about John 3:4?"

My father's mother, Grandma Martin, was one of the most genuine Christian people I will ever know.  The Fruit of the Spirit truly exemplified her life.   I'll never forget one story she told around Christmas when I was a young man.

One cold winter evening Grandma answered her front door in the small town of Lockwood, Missouri.  Standing there was a gentleman asking for a handout.  I don't remember if he asked for food, money or work, but he was in a needy condition.  Now back in the day, Lockwood was a place where front doors were never locked and a crime was when someone was missing three eggs out of the hen house.  Most likely the person had no ulterior motives; however, for reasons all her own, grandma turned the stranger away into the cold evening without providing any assistance.

After she closed the door, she was conscience-stricken with the feeling that she should have helped the person. Immediately she opened the door to offer assistance to the stranger, but he was no where to be seen.  According to grandma, there was no way he could have gotten out of sight that quickly. She was convinced she had refused to provide help to an angel.  I don't remember if she quoted the verse, but she eluded to Hebrews 13:2- ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 


Of course, the odds are the person at the door was a wanderer looking for a handout and might have caused great harm had he been let in, but my grandmother was convinced she had "been shown wanting" in this particular instance.  To this day, I remember the sadness in her voice as she told the story.  No amount of reassurance by her family could convince her she had not missed a God-given opportunity. 


The point is not whether grandmother should have helped this particular person or not, but that there will be moments in our lives that cannot be reclaimed for Christ.  We must be ready at all times to seize "Those Imperfect Opportunities" and initiate Christian conversation. 


1 Peter 3:15 ¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,


Have a great New Year's Day!