“So if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin.” James (Jacob) 4:17 TPT. Well that seems pretty clear to me, if I can see it, then it is my job to do something about it! However, it is not my job to force things to happen, or even make them come to a satisfactory conclusion. I must do what I see in front of me, however the Lord says to do it, even for someone else – and then the results are up to Him. 

After that I give everything back to the the Lord – including the results – and leave it there. “Come to me all of you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Rest is not snoozing on the job, rest is trusting Him to finish what HE started and we go on to have faith that He will help us through the processes. BTW that’s where the miracles are! We are spectators of His Grace in action, in us and through us.

The problem, with noticing opportunities, as I see it, is some people like to ‘fix’ everything, and others regard themselves as being busy – and they hope somebody else – ‘with more time than me,’ will do something about any of the stuff that happens around us. However, there may not be anyone else looking. I hesitate to say that most people rarely see what is going on around them, at all. In my opinion, it is way better if we all end up bumping into one another doing good.

Because if no-one does anything, then that means that everyone is leaving whatever it is, to someone else! And poor old no-one is not helped – plus things will not change. James is also talking about taking the opportunity to do the right thing. At our house we want to live this way every day. That’s our aim, but we don’t always get there! However, we look for opportunities to do other people good –  plus we make sure we repent if we have a hissy-fit on someone else. We’ve discovered that this means that we regard another person’s well-being as important. 

The great news is, when you do what He wants simply because He asked you to do it – either personally, or from the book –  you are stepping into His will. And that’s the place we all need to be … in His will. People often freak out trying to find out what the Lord’s will is – here’s a not-so-secret secret… HIS WILL IS IN THE BOOK. So whenever we help the poor, or widow or orphans, we know we are in His will. Whenever we do good to somebody who despitefully uses us – we know we are in His will!  Whenever we walk the extra mile … we know we are in His will. Whenever we ask for forgiveness no matter who did what – we know we are in His will!

If we read the Beatitudes bearing this attitude in mind – they will blow your mind. Our attitudes need to be like Jesus’ attitudes were – nothing was an interruption to the Lord! Not the disciples talking away about nonsense, or the people who accosted Him in the street as He walked about. Please take note – Jesus was approachable so we need to be approachable. Some people can make others feel invisible and they didn’t say anything yet! When Jesus wanted to pray by Himself, He went somewhere … by Himself. He even gave up His own sleep so He could be with His Father. BUT, when He was awake, He was there for the people around Him.

I think the Lord lived that way because He wanted to reveal His Father’s heart to as many people as He could while He was with us. He saw everything He did, and said, as His ministry. Ministry is not just on Sundays – ministry is the way we all live. Our lives become a ministry just like His life did. Even unto death. We don’t need a label, or a title, to minister to other people. And Sunday is the day when we take the time to minister to the Lord. But on every other day we are looking for opportunities to love on other people … and sometimes on Sundays as well! It’s a LIFESTYLE.

Our problem comes when we try to fit the Lord’s instructions IN around our own already existing lives. But the bible says: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you…”  That’s the order, God’s kingdom first – then the other stuff follows along afterwards. Let’s say that another way … before we jump in to say something, or do something, or speak to someone, or go somewhere, seek His kingdom first! 

BTW I don’t mean pray about this stuff first thing in the morning, and then forget-about-it for the rest of the day! Living this way doesn’t have to be hard – we just ask Him into whatever it is we are doing. Remind Him that we want to do what He wants us to do as we go along. I ask Him to help me not to miss any opportunities to do others good. It isn’t what we are doing that counts, we could be cleaning the downstairs loo! 

But: “Whatever you do, do your work with all your heart, as if you are doing it for the Lord and not for people…” based on Colossians 3:23. It is our daily intention, our full-time ministry, to be in service to Him, for others. So that means that people can’t interrupt us, rather they are giving us an opportunity to show love.👋🏻