Seizing the Opportunity
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Seize the Moment
Seize the Moment
Starting back to School. First full week.
How’s it going?
This new year presents several new opportunities.. The question arises will you seize them?
Zacheus seized an opportunity. A moment.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
You can’t listen to all of the negativity.
Zacheus didn’t
“He’s gone to be the guest of the sinner.”
How many times have you passed up opportunities because people murmured?
People said you weren’t good enough
People said you weren’t tall enough
People said you weren’t smart enough
People said you were too young
People said you weren’t pretty enough
If you listen to the noise, let the noise become your motivation. Turn your obstacle into an opportunity.
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
2. We have to open our eyes to see the opportunity
Zacheues knew Jesus was coming. He was prepared for Jesus to be there. He had his eyes open and was looking for the opportunity.
Sometimes we don’t see the opportunities because we aren’t looking for them… Maybe because we are distracted.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Jesus was always looking for opportunities.
fed the 5,000
healed the blind
being available to talk with his disciples
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
3. Make the most of your opportunity
Zacheus climed to the top of the tree.
Not half way up it.
are you all in?
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
sell out or you might miss the opportunity.
Rich young ruler.
What happens when you miss opportunities ?
Did you know that Disney world was almost in Muscle Shoals Alabama?
4. Give God glory in the opportunity.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.