TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES 2

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES 2

Text: Matthew 13:53-58
Memory verse:
ā€œThe stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.ā€
ā€­ā€­Psalmsā€¬ ā€­118ā€¬:ā€­22ā€¬ ā€­NKJVā€¬ā€¬

I once read the story about a fisherman who discovered a large deformed pearl off the shores of the Philippines. He took this ugly and seemingly useless creature home and kept it under his bed. Ten years later, when he moved, since he had no need of it, he gave it to the local tourism office. Eventually, this seemingly useless pearl became the worldā€™s largest pearl, with an estimated worth of roughly $100 million. The fisherman missed the value of the pearl because it didnā€™t look like what he had in mind.
Similarly, many people miss divinely orchestrated opportunities to be blessed because they donā€™t look like what they were expecting. In our text today, when Jesus came into Nazareth, which was his old community, he encountered tough resistance. Since they were so familiar with his family and his childhood, they said, ā€œIs this not the son of Joseph? Is His father not a carpenter and Himself, that little carpenter? Is His mother not Mary? Donā€™t we know His siblings? What does He want to tell us?ā€
Jesus had visited His own region to bring heavenā€™s blessings on them, as He did in other places. He wanted them to benefit from His miracles.
However, when He discerned their hostile disposition, He decided to limit His miraculous power among them. ā€œNow He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.ā€ ā€­ā€­(Mattā€¬ ā€­13ā€¬:ā€­58ā€¬).ā€¬ā€¬
It is easy to miss the value of something when there is no resemblance to the image you have preconceived about it (Zech 4:10; Psa 118:22). Do you know that most of the men who later became Davidā€™s great military generals and dependable warriors didnā€™t have such resemblance when he first met them? ā€œNot only that, but all who were down on their luck came around – losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader. There were about four hundred in all.ā€ (1 Sam 22:2)
Recently, I started looking back to the past, especially the early years of this ministry, and I discovered that the people who have been such a huge blessing to us today had no resemblance to it then.
Friends, donā€™t allow appearance, status, or present financial position to determine your relationship with anyone. Never look down on anyone. Rather, treat everyone with respect and kindness and be good to all you meet. May you not miss opportunities because they donā€™t look like what you expect or think in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, help me to be discerning and never to lose opportunities because they donā€™t look like what I expect in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, help me to be courteous and to treat everyone I meet with kindness and respect in Jesus’ name.

Todayā€™s declarations
1. I will not despise anyone because they donā€™t have the resemblance of what I expect.
2. I will be courteous, and I will treat everyone I meet with kindness and respect.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng