“Every Opportunity"

"Every Opportunity"  

     When praying for those called to communicate the Word of God, one request most addresses the greatest need and challenge.

     "He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).

       We must pray that the preacher, teacher, and writer will seize the opportunity to ensure that the person and work of the Lord Jesus stands front and center on every occasion offered to proclaim the truth.  I thought of this recently when attending a Christian observance wherein several ministers chose to shine the spotlight away from the Savior.  They rather focused on human personalities, directing primary attention to people rather than the One who died to redeem people.  I do not mean to be critical, especially since I have doubtless too often failed to exalt and emphasize the Savior when provided similar opportunities.  Distraction tempts every communicator of the Gospel, but the diversion must be overcome.  The prayers of believers provide much aid in this most vital of matters.  Thus, before praying about anything else, we do well to ask that preachers, teachers, and writers will ensure in their messages that "He might have the preeminence."

    The Lord Jesus must be served as the meat of every message.  We sprinkle, as it were, the seasoning of illustration, anecdote, testimony, analogy, history, and perspective on our Lord's person and work.  However, who He is and what He does must always provide the sustenance we seek to serve.  Failure involves missed opportunity to honor our Savior and minister to the truest need of human hearts.   "To live is Christ" declared the Apostle Paul of a truth that so filled his heart that he also affirmed, "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2).  So then, let us pray for preachers, teachers, and authors that every opportunity to speak or write finds them devoted to the centrality of the Lord Jesus.  We must waste no opportunity to bear witness and testimony to the only hope of human hearts, and the only Subject worthy of rapt focus and attention.  This is God the Father's and God the Holy Spirit's eternal purpose, and we must flow with their Divine, Christ-centered current…

"God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

(Philippians 2:9-11)

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.  He shall glorify Me."

(John 16:13-14)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

(Psalm 90:2)