EVERY OPPORTUNITY

Dining with Jesus Christian Episodes

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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How many different connections, stories, hard conversations, church services, and other points of contact did God use in your life to help you understand the reality of his presence and grace that was poured out for you through Jesus Christ?

Odds are, the Lord used dozens of people to prepare you for the day when you would stop resisting the call of faith and finally say yes to confessing your trust in Jesus. 

Forget

Sometimes we forget that we once needed to be taught and shown the way by others who were already walking by faith with Jesus. This selective memory can lead us to become impatient with those whom we are praying for and hoping to help lead to real and living faith in Jesus. 

In the passage below, we are encouraged by the Apostle Paul to make the most of every opportunity that the Lord provides as we seek to show others what faithfulness to the Lord looks like in our own lives. 

15 Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Ephesians 5:15-20 NIV11)

Miss Out

How would living an unwise life cause you to miss out on an opportunity to be an important contributor to the development of faith in someone close to you?

They might see your lack of wisdom, your lack of self-control, your struggles with sobriety, your hard or coarse words, or any number of other examples of a life that is not being lived in the wisdom of God, and they might choose to ignore your testimony or your word of encouragement and therefore miss another great step in their spiritual journey. 

Instead

Instead of living in fear of doing or saying the wrong thing and therefore setting aside a God-given opportunity, we ought to listen to the positive call of God found in this teaching. 

What are we called to do that will help us be a positive witness? 

Be filled with the Spirit – Embrace the work of God in your heart and in your life. Be someone who welcomes the Holy Spirit with each new day. Allow the Lord to be your source of joy. 

Speak to one another with… – Instead of being quick to complain, be the one whose words sound like worship and praise. Speak words of encouragement and life, and others will take note. 

Sing and make music – We are all called by God to let our hearts be so filled with the joy of knowing the Lord and being included in his family of grace that we desire times of praise and worship. Dislike of worship is not a sign of a heart that has surrendered to the filling of the Holy Spirit!

Give thanks for everything – If you appreciate what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do in you for eternity, let that gratitude find its way out in your daily conversations. 

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – Do not ever be ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ. You were not saved, made new, redeemed, or rescued by the “man upstairs” or the “big guy.” No way. Speak his name. 

Today

Today is precious. You may not have another. 

So revisit this teaching today. Read it at lunch. Pray through it on your walk or on your break. Let the call to make the most of every opportunity hit home in you today!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH


Worked at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.

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