The Power of New Opportunities

By Jeff Arnette

    I am grateful for this New Year! I say that because sometimes we take for granted the blessing that everything in life starts over at some point. Every day comes to an end and with it comes a new day. With every new day comes new demands, new hopes and dreams, and yes, new opportunities to get it right. It is my hope we will all make the most of New Year and New Opportunities that God has blessed us to with. Let me remind you of just a few of the New Opportunities that God has given you today.
    He has given you new opportunities to reach family and friends with the gospel.
    Every new day, especially every New Year, reminds me of the love of God and his desire to see the lost saved. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not just being slow to fulfill His promises to us but is actually giving us new opportunities to be saved from our sins. Our God loves you and the lost very much and He wants them to be saved from their sins. He has given you this new day and New Year so that you can reach out to them with the gospel. Make the best use of this blessing and plan to talk to them about Jesus Christ.
    He has given you new opportunities to repent of those stubborn sins in your life.
    Every one of us have sin in our life (1 John 1:5-9)! Not one of us could honestly say we don’t sin. I am convinced that for some of us there are stubborn sins, sins that just seem to hold on tightly to us. Every new day is a new opportunity to truly repent of those sins and remove them from our life. Romans 6:17-18 reminds me that no matter how bad, no matter how stubborn, and no matter how difficult it can be; sin can be overcome! God has blessed you with this new day and year to give you the chance to remove that stubborn sin from your life. Make the most of this new opportunity.
    He has given you new opportunities to bring glory and honor to Him.
    Jesus was the only person who ever lived who could say without exception that he always brought glory and honor to God. The rest of us have good days and not so good days. Every new day is a new opportunity to shine as lights in this world (Matt. 5:13-16). Our Lord blesses us each and every day with new and better ways to truly shine. Let’s make sure that we do the best we can with the new opportunities he has given us.
    The power of new opportunities are amazing. Our great and glorious God has given us a new day and a new year to accomplish all that He wants for us. Let’s make the best use of our time here. "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time" (Colossians 4:5; ESV).

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website.