Opportunities

Opportunities.

Let’s talk about opportunities.

Opportunities God may give; and opportunities we may miss.

You’ve heard the phrase, “A window of opportunity”? How many times? Probably a lot of times. And have you heard the scripture, “Windows of Heaven”? Yes?

But have you ever considered the window of opportunity, and the window of heaven, could be one and the same?

And if they’re the same, is it possible to miss the opportunity God has for us because of disobedience on our part?

Simply, yes. It is possible.

A passage from Malachi:

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!” (God’s words to his people)

“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’

“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (Malachi 3:8-12 NLT)

No, dear one, I am not going to give the same old, worn out interpretation of the “Tithe Chapter”. To me, there is so much more God wants to get across to his people than just tithing.

And no, I don’t believe God tells us to prove him with our tithe. I don’t believe it for a minute; though I believe in tithing.

The people of God had turned away from the Lord. It was evidenced by the way they pulled back from bringing their tithe to the priests. Instead of helping support the work of God FIRST, they were taking care of their needs FIRST, and then giving their leftovers to God.

So he said, “You folks need to return to me.”

“How?”, they replied.

“The way you left.”

Did you know that people can tithe and STILL be far from God?

If a person tithes, yet turned to the worship of idols, would God’s blessing of open windows be theirs? No. God would say, “You need to return to me by turning away from your idols.”

The very thing that opens up Heaven’s windows; the very thing that brings the windows of opportunity, is OBEDIENCE.

Obedience to the revealed will of God.

Obedience. Obedience proves God.

He says, “Do thus and so, and I’ll do this and so.” We obey, he honors his word. He’s not a liar, nor is he a manipulator.

Obedience opens the window of opportunity, and the windows of Heaven.

So does this answer the questions, “Why don’t we see Heaven’s windows opened more?” “Why do we miss so many windows of opportunity?”

Jesus said, “I always do what my Father tells me to do.”

“So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28-29 ESV)

And notice:

“Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. ” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened…” (Matthew 3:13-16 NLT)

Heavens were opened as Jesus obeyed his father. Opened Heavens translates to opportunities to touch someone with Heaven’s touch. Isn’t that what we really want? I know it’s what God wants.

Much more than our piddly pocket change.

Or our thousand dollar checks.

He wants our heart.

Don’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime, as the rich young ruler did when he walked away from Jesus’ instruction on how the young man could “return”. He walked away from the greatest opportunity of his life because obeying was too high a price to pay.

God has set before each of us windows.
Opportunities abound, when one walks with God.

Are you going to settle for miserly living? Or will you align your heart and mind with the lover of your soul and say, “Yes, Lord! I have come to do your will! Your wish is my command.”

Do the right thing, and watch the windows open wide.