Is it an opportunity or a crisis?

Opportunities and crises sometime look very similar. When the twelve spies came back to give their report to all the Israelites, ten of them said that they simply could not take the land because giants were present. Two of the spies said the land was delightful and they were ready to take the land. For the ten spies, it had become a crisis. for Joshua and Caleb, it was a lifetime opportunity. Proverbs 10:5 says: “Know the importance of the season you’re in and a wise son you will be. But what a waste when an incompetent son sleeps through his day of opportunity!” A crisis or an opportunity is a time when a decision has to be made. There has to be some kind of change, shift or action to be able to resolve the crisis, or to take advantage of the opportunity. Crises many times arise because of bad decisions or past bad management of our resources. The good thing is that crises can be moments for course correction. If we do heed the moment and “course correct,” we can effectively come out the better for it. If we embrace the opportunity, we can greatly profit from actively engaging in the right time and season. Whether it is a crisis or an opportunity, our actions will determine whether we leave that experience in victory or defeat, with more or less, with great memories or regrets. Well, is it a crisis, or an opportunity?

 

Your focus determines your advancement!

Paul was a man of wisdom. His focus was on taking the gospel message and discipling everywhere he could, and discipling and to as many as he could. He refused to get involved in petty disputes or issues. His mission was too important to waste any time in trivialities. And because of this, he was able to  reach many regions with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He once wrote to the Corinthian church about that. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (Amplified version) says: “for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].” I find that most people are continuously involved in inconsequential discussions, arguments, disagreements and issues, and because of this much of their time is wasted. The end result is that nothing important ever gets done, important projects are never finished, and they never accomplish what God called them to do. Jesus was displeased with the fig tree that bore no fruit (Matthew 21:19). He seeks fruit from our lives. How about you? Are you bearing fruit, or are you too busy with inconsequential things that are always getting in the way? When Jesus looks at you, will he find a fruitful tree, or an unfruitful anemic tree? Paul realized that his time was precious, so he purposefully lived life in such a way that he consciously focused on God’s will for his life. Where is your focus today?

1 Corinthians 2:2 (Amplified version) “for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].”