Jamie Munson » Church Leadership Wisdom Planning

An opportunity on the horizon nearly always coincides with opposition. Opposition is diverse and relentless and, if given all of your time, deadly. Perspective dies as the opposition blurs our vision. Hope can die as the opposition becomes weightier than the opportunity. Fatigue can kill you if you spend more time running from the opposition than pursuing the opportunity. By opposition I don’t mean some nebulous “bad guy” that doesn’t like what you’re trying to do. I’m referring to the long list of things that battle contrary to our opportunities.

Danger…Danger…Danger

Take the Apostle Paul for instance. His life and ministry were filled with opportunities to preach the gospel, plant churches, and lead people to Jesus. What sort of opposition did he face? He lists a few in 2 Corinthians 11:24–28:

• Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Repent and Trust

Not many people have a comparable resume, but nevertheless there are true costs associated with pursuing the opportunities to which Jesus calls us. The costs are inevitable, and this isn’t an excuse to avoid opportunity, rather a call to discern and choose wisely what to pursue. When our sin is the opposition, we need to be quick to repent. When the opposition is external, we need to trust God and proceed boldly.

"Be Strong in the Lord"

Jesus opens up significant opportunities to preach the gospel and glorify him. Be wise and be ready. Expect opposition, but don’t be afraid. “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph. 6:10). Jamie Munson is the Lead Pastor of Mars Hill Church. You can connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.