SEASONS SHOULDN’T DICTATE YOUR ACTIONS

March 8, 2023 ︱Carmine Azzato︱Hitting The Pavement

Being prepared is the most important thing to remember. The Bible encourages us to be prepared to share the good news of Jesus Christ at all times. We should share the gospel with a spirit of gentleness and love, not one of judgment and condemnation. When we make ourselves ready, we can spread God’s message of hope and grace to the world around us. We can be confident that even when the circumstances are less than ideal, when we are ready with God’s truth, it will make a difference in the lives of those we encounter. 

Be confident in your faith and strength in the Lord, and you will have the courage to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the goal is to be ready. To be prepared to share the gospel at any given moment in order for someone to see the light and accept God’s grace. Be ready, be prepared and be willing to share the gospel! The people that God crosses your path with are waiting for you to seize the moment and act on your purpose, even if the circumstances don’t seem ideal.

2 Timothy 4:2 Amplified Bible

2 preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.

When you make the decision to follow Jesus in faith and obedience, you will not be alone. The Holy Spirit will be with you, empowering you to carry out Jesus’ mission. You can take courage from Jesus’ example and strive to reach out to those who are lost. Jesus’ life and teachings provide us with all the guidance we need to be successful. 

In Chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles, we are reminded that we don’t always need to understand everything. After Jesus’ resurrection, the Apostles were thrilled to see Him and were eager to know what would happen next. However, Jesus gently reminded them that not only was it not necessary for them to know, but that they still had some work to do before the next age (Acts 1:8). This is a reminder that we must trust in God’s plan and timing, even if we don’t understand it. We may not know what God has in store for us, but we can rest assured that He will lead us in His perfect timing.

Acts 1:7 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power. 8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

The best way to recognize that the Holy Spirit has come upon you is to feel compelled to spread the joy of Jesus with everyone around you. I often tell audiences that they should not assume that just because they are present in a church pew, they are truly pursuing Jesus. It is important to make an active effort to seek out Jesus and His promises in order to unlock the fullness of what He has to offer. I remind them that their pursuit of Him will unlock the provision in Him, leading to an abundance of blessings.