A lady once called the office of her church and asked to speak to one of the ministers. When she got one of the pastors on the phone she asked him if he or one of the pastoral staff could pay a visit to her nephew. She explained that the nephew had a burglar break into his home in the middle of the night while he was asleep. The nephew woke up when the intruder entered his bedroom. Startled, the criminal started shooting at point blank range, then fled the scene. Police investigating the crime told the man that he was very fortunate that he wasn’t killed or seriously wounded. “So,” the woman concluded, “I think my nephew is ready to listen to the gospel message!”

We need to watch for windows of opportunity where people might be more receptive to listening to the good news about salvation through Jesus. Such occasions might include: a near death experience, a graduation, a wedding, a birth, the death of a loved one or a serious illness.

Can you name other windows of opportunity we need to be watching for?

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”—Colossians 4:5.