Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Are You Making the Most of Every Opportunity?

Not long ago one of our staff members was driving to a conference and had nearly reached his destination when the vehicle suddenly broke down. So he did what most any person would do in this kind of situation - called for help and found some shade nearby to shield him from the hot sun. And he did one more thing. He prayed and asked God to help him make the most of the situation by allowing him to be a witness for Him. Eventually the towing service arrived, picked up the vehicle and took it to a repair shop about twenty minutes up the road, toward the location of the conference. And our staff member rode alongside in the tow truck.

For the first 15 minutes of the ride, he and the driver exchanged greetings and made small talk. And he was praying and asking God for an open window in the conversation to direct it into something spiritual with the hopes of eventually sharing the Gospel. The time finally came and time was running out quickly. So he took a deep breath and took a conversational risk. Here's what he said to the driver. "You know, earlier you asked me what I did for a living and I told you I work for a ministry organization. Do you have any spiritual interests at all at this point of your journey?" He awaited the driver's response.

"Here's my take," the driver said. "I believe, but I don't much care for getting into arguments about religions and churches and stuff. But I do believe." Our staff member let him know he appreciated his open response and honesty. They were off to a great start, yet they were only a minute or two from the repair shop where they would drop off the vehicle.

Then the driver asked, "Why did you ask me that?" "I just love to hear other people's stories and learn from their perspectives," our staff member replied. "And I personally hold to what the Bible says that were it not for Jesus, I could never earn God's approval. And without Him, I would never make it to heaven. The fact that He loved me so much that He died for me makes me want to live for Him wholeheartedly. I reached a point in my life where I had to decide who was going to call the shots in my life - either me or God. I have chosen God and I've never been the same since."

God used something that was said to strike a chord with the driver. He listened very intently and seemed to take everything in like a dry sponge soaking up water. Then the driver said, "You know, it's sort of ironic that you asked me about this because I shouldn't even be here right now. I should be dead." He went on to explain how just the week before, a vehicle he was hooking up made a sudden shift, just missing his head, which, according to his speculations, would have been a definite and sudden death. "It really got me to thinking," he said, almost reliving the experience.

Our staff member finished his part of the conversation by adding, "What God wants from us, more than our efforts at being good people, is our hearts. Has there ever been a time in your life when you have truly given your heart to Jesus? I'm not talking about going to church, but making a life-commitment to Him. One thing that I have noticed in talking to a lot of people on this subject is that it seems to really help to have a definite beginning point in your relationship with God." Again, he listened attentively.

Our staff member showed the driver his wedding ring and told him that the ring is a constant reminder that he made a life-commitment to his wife and it signified the beginning of their married life together. Then he challenged the driver with this: "If you aren't able to identify a definite beginning point in your relationship with Jesus, I encourage you to get that settled right away. And it sounds like He is giving you another chance. He shed His blood for you and He is waiting for you to give Him your heart and life." At that, they both expressed appreciation for the meaningful conversation, and their time was up. They both made their separate ways.

The Scripture is clear that we are to be busy "making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16 ). So let's bring it home with a few questions to consider.

What opportunities have you recently made the most of by sharing Jesus with someone and watching God "show up" on your behalf? And what opportunities have you passed up to try to make an eternal difference in someone else's life? And here's one for the road - are you ready to make the most of the opportunities God is getting ready to place before you...possibly even today?

To help you maximize the opportunities God gives you to share Him with others, our ministry provides a resource called "A Life That Matters." This 13-week DVD resource, hosted by Ron Hutchcraft, is ideal for you personally, your family, and even your church, for motivating and preparing you to reach the people you come in contact with for Jesus. Visit www.alifethatmatters.org for more details. And let's make the most of every opportunity!