April 27-May 3

WATCHED FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
David Bearden
St. Louis, Missouri

Without consideration of the context of Luke 22:6, “watched for an opportunity,” might seem to be a very positive statement. We have all heard the encouragement to look for the open door, the opportunity to do something important, special and productive, even in difficulty and tragedy. But when you look at the context and see that the passage is the account of Judas betraying Jesus, it takes a different tone. Judas struck an agreement with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard to be rewarded for finding the perfect opportunity for them to take Jesus captive. The context reveals that Satan started this opportunity seeking and passed it down the line to the Jewish leaders and on to Judas. When the opportunity was found it resulted in the crucifixion of our Lord, so we would certainly not think of this particular “watching for an opportunity” as positive.

But there was another watching for an opportunity, the eternal controller of all opportunities, God. He watched from his omniscient perspective for the exact right moment for Satan to make his move to void God’s will in order to transform it into a victory for divine destiny. God watched for the vilest form of hate to be displayed to model the ultimate gift of love. The Father watched for the betrayal of His Son to show the loyalty of His promise. The Great I Am watched for the declaration of hopelessness to shatter the hold of death with the hope of the resurrection. The Almighty “watched for an opportunity” to make him that had no sin to become sin for us and bring him home to reign as Lord of Lords and King of Kings!

And so, we watch for opportunities. Opportunities to make more money, to advance, to get ahead, to get even, to show them, to be heard, to make a move, to shine, to be more, to….But realizing the greatest opportunity has been created out of the most negative of watching for an opportunity, it causes me to pause and consider and to watch. Watch for the opportunity to be more in tune with the opportunities the Father has provided for me to be about his eternal will rather than consumed with my temporary selfish opportunity seeking.

[David Bearden is the preaching minister for the McKnight Road Church of Christ in St. Louis, Missouri. This is David’s second time to minister in St. Louis. He preached for the Maryland Heights Church of Christ in the St. Louis area during the 80’s and returned after several years of ministry in the Los Angeles Area. David writes for Power for Today and co-authored the book, Living the Worthy Life, with Dr. Jerry Jones.]