Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? (Acts 3:12)
What is evident from the previous verse is that Peter was not looking for an opportunity to preach the gospel when healed the man born lame. He did not think, “If I heal this man, it will draw a great crowd and that will give me a chance to tell people about Jesus.”
Furthermore, there is no indication that Peter brought the man into the temple as “Exhibit A” to show people what God had just done. Instead, we read in verse 11 that the man “held tightly to Peter and John” (v.11)
True, Peter’s most likely was visiting the Temple to preach as was a daily practice for the for the Apostles (Acts 5:42) but his awareness of the opportunity that was presented came, not when he healed the man but when the crowd expressed amazement and apparently were ready to ascribe credit to both him and John.
In other words, Peter didn’t heal the man as a means of gaining an opportunity to preach to an audience. Instead, he saw the audience and took advantage of the opportunity to preach.
The distinction is small but significant.
In our zeal, we can sometimes be tempted to create opportunities and in the process, use people as a means to further our ministry.
For example, we become aware of a great testimony someone in our church has and we encourage (pressure?) them to share so that we can use their experience to motivate and minister to others. Or perhaps we hold a fun event that we know will draw a crowd and then use that opportunity as they gather, to preach Jesus to them.
Both examples can seem good – even wise and astute, and the end, we argue, justifies the means.
Are these opportunities that God may use? Perhaps. If the person themselves senses God wants to testify to what He has done, and if the event is advertised as an opportunity to hear what the Bible teaches, both situations may be opportunities God is presenting.
The real point of this passage, however, is that the most powerful and fruitful “God opportunities” arise when He creates them with little or no intent from us.
He creates the opportunity; we notice and capitalise on it. This is God’s blueprint for ministry throughout the Book of Acts.
How often do we miss the opportunities God brings our way because we are too intent on looking to create our own opportunities? Is it possible that such opportunities are plentiful and yet we miss them because we lack sensitivity to the Spirit’s prompting?
Sure, if it was something like amazement at a miracle, we would grab the opportunity to preach with both hands, but what if these opportunities are more subtle – a question asked, an offhand comment made, a need shared, or an interest expressed? Would we have the discernment and sensitivity to notice these opportunities and the courage to take advantage of them?
If not we might miss what God wants to do through us.
But there is one further point to note – something which threatens to turn a God-given opportunity into an opportunity squandered.
What motivated Peter to begin to speak was one thing: the desire to give glory of God.
How tempting was it for Peter to accept the adulation of the crowd and the notion that somehow, he had made the lame man walk by his “own power and godliness” (v.12). Probably not very tempting at all but is the same true for you and me? Maybe we would crave just a little credit – a brief moment in the spotlight.
Not Peter. The opportunity he saw was not one of self-promotion or the promotion of his church or ministry. He saw an opportunity to give glory to God and to point people to Him.
All those opportunities mentioned previously (a question asked, an offhand comment made, a need shared, or an interest expressed) come in the midst of life and each are an invitation to point people to God – not ourselves but to Him.
When we notice these opportunities and sense what God wants to do through them, we can be confident that as we sensitively point people to Him as the answer to their questions and needs, He will be faithful to make Himself apparent.
Reflection and discussion
What opportunities has God given to us over the past year – situations that arose that produced fruit with little or no effort on our part?
What are some ways in which we face the temptation to create our own opportunities – good initiatives but not necessarily God-initiatives?
How tempting is it for us to take credit for what God has done through us? Where do you find yourself having to continually remind yourself that any good outcome is not due to your own “power and godliness”?
What do you say to yourself in order to not take glory from God when things go well?
Application
What opportunities might God be presenting to your ministry or church right now? Don’t necessarily focus on the big and obvious. Is there a something small you see that may be evidence of Him at work?