Opportunities That Knock

Read Acts 21:15–28:31

24. Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
25. But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.
26. And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!
27. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”
28. Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”
29. Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:24-29

What’s worse than running out of gas on a busy freeway during rush hour? Being told that such problems are wonderful opportunities for character growth.

Paul has flat tires at nearly every turn. Yet each time, his delay or detour becomes an opportunity to preach, witness, and spread the Good News about Christ. Paul must have considered his itinerary to be completely in God’s hands, for he doesn’t complain about hunger, cold, shipwreck, snakebite, imprisonment, or the injustice of his own court case. He adjusts marvelously to change, as his last recorded speech makes clear. In an exemplary way, Paul sees each pothole as just part of the trip, which makes his life an adventure in faith.

Paul was arrested by a Roman commander because he was the center of attention in a riot. But the reason for his arrest is not as important as how he handled this humiliation, setback, and injustice. As military officers and prominent city leaders met with King Agrippa to hear Paul’s case, Paul prepared his thoughts for another speech about Jesus. He saw his troubled situation not as a cause for lodging a formal complaint with the government, but as another opportunity to present the Good News about Christ that mattered so much to him (Acts 25:23–26:32).

Every offense and injustice you suffer will test you. It will force you—as it forced Paul—to choose what to “preach” about. Will you see your humiliation only as a problem, barrier, or roadblock to your happiness? Or will you see it as an opportunity, given to you by God, to demonstrate his power and love in your life? Rather than complain at every hint of brokenness in this world, why not try to fix it? Look for ways to turn your painful experiences into an opportunity to serve God and share him with others.