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.]

January 1-January 5, 2008

SOMETHING NEW
David Bearden
St. Louis, Missouri

Matthew begins something new, the first book of the New Testament introducing a new age. It tells of a new hero in the line of Abraham and David (Mat. 1:1, 17). The Gospel according to Matthew tells of a new approach to God’s working among mankind through a child born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit who would be called, “Immanuel, God with us” (Mat. 1:18-25). It tells of a new King who would be the object of both worship and hatred at the same time (Mat. 2). It tells of a new interpretation of old prophecies about a Messiah that would come, and of a new prophet that prepared the way for the Messiah (Mat. 3:1-12). The account of Matthew tells of new temptations by the Old Master Tempter and the only one who has been able to completely resist (Mat. 4:1-11). Matthew’s Good News tells of the preacher of Good News who testifies to his followers with signs of miraculous power and messages of new rules that contrast with the old failing applications from sinful hearts (Mat. 5). Matthew tells of a new rule of love from a man who demonstrated love because his father out of love sent him in love (Mat. 3:13-17). Matthew begins something new, the opportunity for his readers to be renewed by the receiving of the Savior, the Messianic King and Lord of the Universe, Jesus the Son of God!


[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.]