Get up crazy early. Stand in a long line. Spend hours in bone-chilling cold. Try to avoid being trampled by a stampeding crowd.
Doesn't sound like my idea of a fun way to spend the day after Thanksgiving. Or any day, for that matter. But the weekend news is filled with the stories of countless Americans doing just that. As they hit the stores to scoop up the "door-busting" bargains offered in the wee hours of "Black Friday" (or is it Black and Blue Friday?).
Black Friday veterans have told me that it's not just a crunch - it's also a rush. It's all about recognizing short-lived opportunities and aggressively going after them before they're gone.
So is telling people the Good News about Jesus - that He can erase your sins, love you without strings and guarantee you heaven. It's all about recognizing the opportunities we all have to bring up Jesus. And realizing that those windows of opportunity won't last long. Oh yeah - and going after those opportunities aggressively.
That's part of the Bible's description of how to live smart. It says, "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16). Another translation talks about "buying up the time." Just like those Black Friday shoppers, going after it with a passionate sense of urgency.
When the bargains are gone, you lost a little money. When the Jesus-sharing opportunities are gone, it can cost you the eternity of someone you care about. Because "he that has the Son has life; he that does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12). If you have Jesus, you "have life." It's up to you to share that life with those around you who don't.
What creates a natural opportunity to talk about your relationship with Jesus? It might be something happening in their life...something happening in your life...or something going on in the world. Anything that legitimately provides an opportunity for you to reference a difference that having Jesus makes.
More than anything, what opens natural opportunities to talk about Jesus is praying for them. Like Paul did. "Pray for us, that God may open a door for our message" (Colossians 4:3). And when you ask God for open doors, open your eyes to look for them. They'll be there, all over the place. Because God really wants you to tell the people you know about His Son.
It's exciting to live the adventure of discovering life-giving opportunities. And it's costly to miss them. Really costly.