Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Psalm 100:2
How do we view each day? I know for me I usually feel like each day has a list of obligations and in many ways it does. However, each day is also filled with opportunity, but I often wonder am I treating opportunities like obligations? For example, we have studied brotherly love on the last couple of Wednesday nights. I now realize, while to love one another is a scriptural command (John 13:34-35), it is also an opportunity I have to show godliness and increase the quality of life for those I come in contact with as well as myself. Too many times, as well meaning as we may be, we emphasize the command over the opportunity. We, as teachers and preachers, need to be careful to show the blessings as well as the commands of following God’s word and implementing what is revealed to us in all aspects of our lives (1 John 5:3).
One should view each new day as an opportunity. As a child I did like school but, admittedly, I enjoyed days off much more. Looking back, I would have done even better by seeing each day as a chance to succeed. Jesus stressed the importance of seeing the value of each day as an opportunity to make accomplishments. John 9:4 says, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”.
When I begin to look at life more in a way of having an opportunity as opposed to seeing everything as an obligation then I will have a completely different attitude in embracing any task that faces me. The apostle Paul was a great man but he was still a man. I find studying his life and character both encouraging and exemplary. In Romans 1 we receive a great deal of insight into what made this man, whom by inspiration, often defined himself as an average man, so successful. He simply treated apostleship as an opportunity to do his service toward God. Romans 1:15 says, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also”. So it is with me, I find when I see something as an opportunity, the amount of zeal I have far exceeds what I might possess feeling obligated.
Each day has its share of responsibilities, yes, but it also has so many opportunities as well to do good for others, glorify God, and strengthen ourselves as we prepare ourselves for eternity.
By Jason Barger