It was the famous annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities. A crowd of 250,000 lined the banks of the river Thames, and fifteen million more watched on television.
“The pressure was immense,” remembered trainee vicar Chris Rimmer after his gruelling seven-month period of intensive practising for the Oxford reserve team. But despite extreme nerves, Rimmer wasn’t just focused on the race. He longed to share God with others that day. Thankfully, there was an unexpected five-minute delay in their tightly packed schedule. Rimmer grabbed the opportunity, gathered the Oxford squad around him, and prayed. “It was a really special quiet time within a day of madness,” he later reflected.
With just minutes to go before the coin toss and the starting flag, Rimmer didn’t miss his moment. Making the most of opportunities to share God with others aptly reflects Paul’s encouragement to the Colossians (Colossians 4:5). They were to “Devote [themselves] to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (v. 2), asking God to open doors to share about Jesus (v. 3). They were to conduct themselves with godly integrity (v. 5 ). And their conversation was to be “full of grace, seasoned with salt” (v. 6)—talking in an engaging but wholesome way.
God’s love in our hearts yearns to break out and reach others, and life offers us many opportunities, in prayer, action and word. We can ask God for those open doors and then confidently walk through.
By Anne Le Tissier
REFLECT & PRAY
What opportunities do you have to share God’s truth and presence with others? When is it right to talk about Him or offer prayer, and when, on the other hand, do your actions speak louder than words?
Heavenly Father, thank You for my work, activities and relationships. Please help me keep watch for any opportunity to share Your love and truth with someone today.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Colossians 4:2–6, Paul draws our attention to his commitment to the Great Commission. Before we tell others about Jesus, Paul instructs us to spend time talking with God about those who don’t yet believe in Him. The Greek word translated “devote” (v. 2) means “to give attention to; to spend much time together.” Effective evangelism begins with praying for opportunities to share our faith in Jesus, asking for courage to talk about Him and for clarity of our message (vv. 3–4 ). We’re to “make the most of every opportunity” when it comes to sharing the good news (v. 5). Paul advocates living a life that draws others to Christ (v. 6). Jesus spoke of letting our “light shine before others, that they may see [our] good deeds” (Matthew 5:15–16). Peter tells us to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks . . . the reason for the hope that [we] have” (1 Peter 3:15).
K. T. Sim
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