Message summary: Today may the Lord help each of us to "make the most of every opportunity".

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"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity" (Colossians 4:3-5).

Each spring we have a bit of a problem on our property. Birds make the most of every opportunity to build nests, but not necessarily in the best places for us. Yesterday I removed a mess of debris where a mourning dove was building a nest (no eggs yet) on an eve directly above our old pump water feature. Of course having a steady supply of dropped nesting material is not what we want to see in our fountain.

I found another robin's nest with eggs on an empty upside down planter stored on a shelf behind our utility barn. I was able to leave the nest alone during my clean-up although mother robin was none too pleased that I was working around her nesting quarters.

Our biggest issue is that birds are now building nests inside the storage loft of our barn and they are very indiscreet as to where they use the bathroom! I need to see how they are getting in and plug the holes.

But these birds do provide an example of making the most of every opportunity in regard to finding a place to build their nests. They are very creative and resourceful. Adding a little humor they have yet to offer any money for their rental space - they are inhabiting stolen property and they do no clean-up before they decide to fly the coop.

As Christians our daily text uses the phrase "make the most of every opportunity" in regard to our witness for Christ.

"That God may open a door for our message". Paul requested prayer from the Colossian believers for himself but it's also a timeless prayer for each of us.

"Open doors" are the divinely ordained appointments that we may or may not expect. It might happen anywhere along life's journey and in unexpected ways.

This morning I received an email from Jeremy, a young man I worked with over 20 years ago, but completely lost touch shortly afterward. Turns out he was keeping in touch by receiving our email messages. I can't recall how I sought to witness and build him up in his faith at the time as we worked together but he reconnected and informed me that he was married with three children and "yes absolutely we are seeking to serve and glorify God all along the way on this life adventure".

"Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should". Likewise, that's a prayer not only for Paul but each of us. Clarity is so needed in our age of obfuscation. Obfuscation is the obscuring of the intended meaning of communication by making the message difficult to understand, usually with confusing and ambiguous language.  In the Bible the clarion call is the "powerful moment when God speaks clearly to awaken hearts and stir action" (Max Lucado).

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders". Outsiders in this context are those outside the faith. We need wisdom in how we interface with them. The Expositor's commentary elaborates, "demonstrate practical Christian wisdom in dealing with secular society".

"Make the most of every opportunity". Making the most of the opportunity means to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way, and in the context of this Colossians selection it refers to an opportunity to speak the gospel. This is also translated "redeeming the time".  The idea is taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. God is a God of providence and He providentially gives/allows opportunities for which we must be spiritually alert and ready to redeem. (Precept Austin commentary)

This is not just for those in formal positions of “ministry” such as a pastor or missionary, but for all who follow Christ and seek to let His light shine through them. May the Lord help each of us this day to "make the most of every opportunity".

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber