EPHESIANS 5:15-16

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

TO PONDER

I guess every generation has faced its own version of evil. Whether it be global scale conflict, slavery, terrorism or corporate greed, just to name a few. It's not a new thing.

But the way evil presents itself is constantly changing. In fact the Bible warns that there will come a time where people forget the Lord and begin to call good things evil and evil things good. I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm seeing more and more of that on the news these days.

It's easy to become discouraged during times like this when the world around us seems out of control. When kings and presidents, prime ministers and supreme leaders are making decisions that effect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, all seemingly for their own political gain. It is easy to feel powerless and hopeless when the things we have taken for granted become harder to access. Who would ever have thought that owning and operating a car would become such a strain on the average family budget here in Australia?

But here's the thing, during the Covid 19 pandemic, there were plenty of leaders talking like Paul is here in Ephesians. They'd say things like, "we can't afford to waste this crisis", or "every crisis brings its own unique opportunities". This cultural moment is also an opportunity for the people of God to bear witness to Jesus. How we react to the mounting financial pressure bears witness to our faith and trust in God. How we speak about our local political leaders and politicians also is a witness to how closely we are following Jesus example of respecting the civil authorities, even when we might not approve of their particular policies. The way we resist the temptation to fall into despair and instead find hope in Jesus shows the world another way. This is an opportunity.

It is often when people are hurting the worst or facing deep and troubling issues or grief that they are most open to talking freely and deeply about life and faith. If your faith can easily be seen as you act wisely in these kinds of times, don't be surprised if people start asking you about how you see the current situation. Instead, be prepared to explain your hope and faith in Jesus. This is how you make the most out of an opportunity - even the tough ones.

PRAYER:Lord Jesus, when life gets hard it is too easy to lose sight of the good and focus only on the negative. Please help me to see the opportunities you place before me each day to share the hope and life that I have found in you - especially in the midst of difficult and trying circumstances. Please help em to see each and every challenge not as a reason to despair, but as an opportunity to share you with the world. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.