Opportunities | AdventAI

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 28, 1875

Opportunities.

How many there are in the church of Christ who sigh for opportunities of usefulness, while they never take hold of those close at hand. They want something to do—some great thing, like Naaman of old—and the simple waters of Jordan are despised by them. But if we remember that life is made up of little things, and the daily consecration of these little things may bring about great results, like the small seeds, which, scattered, bring great harvest, we would not look further than our every-day walk and path for means of usefulness. It is said a room may be swept to the glory of God. I am sure it is so; good living is good preaching, and a heart tuned to the praise of redeeming grace will give forth no discordant music. If these words, "Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," be our life motto, we shall not need to sigh for opportunities of usefulness.

A pious couple in England, after morning prayers with their children and servants meet for a few hours in their own room, to ask the Lord for work. "Lord, what wilt thou have us to do to-day? Let us work for thee, O Lord!" and expecting in faith, the answer, their senses are quickened to perceive and seize the opportunities, and they are wonderfully and remarkably blessed. "Ye have not, because ye ask not."

A lady, once writing a letter to a young naval officer who was almost a stranger to her, thought, "Shall I close this as anybody would, or shall I say a word for my Master?" And lifting up her heart for a moment, she wrote telling him that his constant change of scene and place was an apt illustration of the words, "Here we have no continuing city," and asked if he could say, "I seek one to come." In trembling, she folded it and sent it off. Back came the answer: "Thank you so much for these kind words. My parents are dead. I am an orphan, and no one has spoken to me like that since my mother died, long years ago." The bow, shot at a venture, hit home, and the young man shortly after rejoiced in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of peace. Christians, how often do we close a letter as anybody else would, when we might say a word for Jesus?

—Witness.