Surrounded by Opportunity
The COVID pandemic was often viewed through the lens of restrictions. People lamented the constant limitations on what we could or couldn't do. These restrictions caused moments of tension, anger, and frustration. The pandemic triggered emotional, relational, and physical struggles for many. Personally, I recall the moment I had to shift my mindset. Complaining and negativity no longer dictated my days, so I shifted my focus from what I couldn’t do to the opportunities around me. Many people approach their relationship with God as a religion of restriction rather than a relationship of opportunity. Take a moment to read Genesis 2:15-17 and note that God created us in a relationship with Him that is surrounded by opportunity, not restriction.
Genesis 2:15-17 (CSB) – The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for on that day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
THE LORD PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HIM
Adam was given the chance to serve the Lord by working the land and caring for creation. He was allowed to name the animals and look after them. As a steward, Adam had the responsibility entrusted by the Lord to perform these tasks, but this responsibility also represented an opportunity. The Lord allowed Adam the blessing of serving the Lord.
The Lord invites us to work and follow His calling in our lives. Instead of seeing work and calling as strict commands, view them as opportunities. The Lord grants us the privilege to serve and participate in His work. We should adopt the mindset that our work and service are chances given by God to serve Him and expand His kingdom. How can you utilize your work and service as opportunities to obey the Lord?
THE LORD PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY HIM
Adam was granted the chance to experience the Lord's blessing and favor. The Bible states that the Lord told Adam he could freely eat from any tree in the garden. This instruction shows that the Lord intended for Adam to enjoy his place of service and to benefit from His blessing. The ability to enjoy the blessing arises when Adam takes advantage of the Lord's opportunity to enjoy the produce of the garden.
The Lord invites us to enjoy the blessings of the garden we serve in, encouraging us to experience His fullness and delight in His provisions. When we pursue opportunities to enjoy the Lord, we focus on recognizing His work, blessings, and guidance in our lives. We resist negative thoughts and perspectives that see life as limited, choosing instead to embrace the opportunities the Lord provides for us to enjoy.
THE LORD PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBEY HIM
The Lord set a single restriction for Adam: do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If Adam disobeyed, death would follow. Despite having many opportunities, Adam faced only one limit. However, this restriction also offered a chance—to obey the Lord.
The Lord does not give a list of restrictions to harm us; He provides them as opportunities to obey Him. Obedience is seizing the opportunity to worship the Lord through faithfulness. We must guard against becoming overwhelmed or overly focused on the restrictions in following the Lord and instead see the opportunities for obedience and worship.
In our human experience, we often tend to focus on restrictions and rules and emphasize them too much. However, in Christ, we are truly set free and called to live faithfully. While there are certain "do nots" we must follow, our attention should be directed toward the opportunities the Lord gives us to serve, enjoy, and obey Him.
