What Would You Do with a Chance?

12/30/2018

When was the last time you had a chance? What even comes to mind when asked? Was it a chance to travel, a chance to see, a chance to marvel, or a chance to give the keynote speech? Was it a chance to win, a chance to grow, or a chance at a sneak peek? What did you do with your chance? Did you take it, or did you waver? Did you do it, or did you pass? What will you do the next time you have a chance?

I recently read the book, What Do You Do with a Chance, by Kobi Yamada. The book presents a chance as an intriguing paper figure flying in the air, close enough to reach out and grab. The child in the book wants to grab hold, but for various reasons doesn’t. He feels defeated, he feels guilty, he feels regret. He tries to build up the courage to grab the chance the next time it presents--if it presents. He thinks on how taking the chance will change his life, he is excited and hopeful, but still wonders if the chance will present itself again.

I thought of several different things as I read this little book, chances I would like to have, and truly, the book helped me to begin to ready my mind and my spirit if the chances I pray about ever present. The author is right, sometimes chances come when we least expect them and we are not ready. Our fears of the unknown cause us to turn away, then we feel regret and ask ourselves what-if for days on end. As I look towards the start of 2019, I am preparing to take my chance. I say, “my chance,” as if there will only be one, but really there will be more. If the Lord doesn’t call me home, there will be at least 365 chances in 2019.

Think of a chance as a blessing. It can be the opportunity to be blessed, but it can also be the opportunity to be a blessing to someone else. We can selfishly think of all the blessings and opportunities we want to come our way, but I would like to use this post to encourage us to think of ways we can be a blessing in 2019. Who have you needed to visit; who needs to receive a letter from you? Who do you owe an apology? Who needs your prayers? Who should you invite to church? Who needs a hug? Who needs your encouragement? What organization needs your donation? What organization needs your volunteer hours? Who needs your time and attention? 2019 offers us 365 chances to be a blessing. Will you take those chances?

Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Be very careful, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Everyday we see evidence of evil days on the 6pm news. SInce we don’t know how many days we have, but we do know that our days are numbered (Psalm 90:12), we must make the most of our opportunities -our chances- when they present. This verse can be interpreted as both the chances that come for our benefit, and also the chances we have to be a blessing to someone else. Along with every chance is a choice. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Choose your chances wisely in 2019.

Thank you for reading!
Please forward this post to someone today!
Kim

9 Comments

Veronica Hodge

12/30/2018 03:50:37 pm

Yes, we have had 364 chances as of today. This blog allowed me to journey back in those days of 2018 to examine myself on the chances it regrets. This examine is as well an awake call for 2019. Before we take the communion at church we ask to examine ourselves before partaking the elements of Jesus. Yes, the chances in 2019 are brand new mercies and are not like the chances of 2018 because the mercies are brand new every day we open our present which us the gift if life. Our Heavenly Father's grace and mercy is a chance to do what He has for us to do.
Thank you for that eye opener for the soul because all needs to align vertically before it can be horizontally. Mind, body and soul all is one just as Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you again.

Steph Simich

10/19/2019 12:36:24 pm

This message resonated with me so much this morning! I will take this from now and through 2020. One point that was so significant to me was when the chance comes am I ready? After all sometimes that chance comes when I least expect it!

2/25/2021 10:19:59 am

As concerning the Word of life, Luke 10 section 25-28 says: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
Luke 18 section 18-25 says: A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 5 section 43-48 says: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In Old Testament, the Jewish people and their ancestors were given the Law to observe. First, What Adam and Eve should observe was that they could not eat the fruits from the tree of wisdom. Then, their son Cain was told that he should not kill. As sins became increased, the laws were also added more. Up to the generation of Moses, the Law in Old Testament was given to Israelites. We know that the Law is good and the Law is used to punish people who commit sins, but people cannot obey the Law because the sinful spirits are in people. Even that we know stealing and giving false testimony are sinful, but greedy and pride spirits in us drive us to do sinful things. So as Old Testament prophesied we need to get rid of our sinful nature from our spirits.
Jeremiah 31 section 31-33 says: "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the Lord. "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Ezekiel 36 section 24-27 says: "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
The prophecies are fulfilled when Jesus begins to teach love. The two greatest commandments are " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Love is above the Law and if people have love they are free from the law of sin and death. People who are full of love will not think about stealing or giving false testimony but are merciful and they feed hungry people or give thirsty people something to drink or invite strangers in or clothe people who need clothes. The Law is for people who commit sins. Nobody will say that he will get reward because he does not steal before. But love is the grace we get. And with love we will get eternal life.
Romans 13 section 8-10 says: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Luke 17 section 2

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