“Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, ‘We shall hear you again concerning this.’ So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him and believed…” Acts 17:32-34a (NASB)

You often don’t know what your witnessing is accomplishing in the moment.

One day I arrived late for a youth pastor’s meeting, so I missed the introductions. But as I sat down, I noticed a familiar face across the room — one I would never have guessed would be at this meeting. About four year earlier, I had met Rick. He was one of the most spiritually antagonistic university students I had ever come across, and now he was a youth pastor?

After the meeting he told me the story of how shortly after we had met, three people had attempted to explain the importance of having a relationship with God. Each time he argued and fought, but finally he realized the truth and accepted Christ’s love and forgiveness to become a Christ follower. It was his last semester of university. That fall he began his training for vocational ministry!

You just never know where you fit into the progression of God’s plan for another person. Paul demonstrates this in our passage today.

He wasn’t the only one. This “You Just Never Know” attitude was demonstrated by Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14:6 when he said to his armor bearer, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.” Jonathan and is armor bearer were willing to take a risk and trust that God could work through their small military advance. God did work and give a great victory that day. Jonathan took a step of faith and God blessed his faith.

It pleases God when we trust Him to weave our acts of faith into his master plan for individuals and nations!

*Father, help me to see the people and circumstances around me through your eyes. Guide my small steps of faith to fit into your eternal plan. Help me anticipate your hand at work even when I’m fearful or only see a brief moment in the larger story. Amen.”

By Mike Woodard
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  The Almighty A Poem by Katy Kaufmann

•  God’s Sufficiency Exceeds Our Need – by Sylvia Gunter

•  Salvation Explained

The post You Just Never Know appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.”  Acts 10:17

Praying on a rooftop in Caesarea, Peter, the apostle of stomp and snort, is hungry, and while he waits for his daily bread to be prepared, he seeks the everlasting bread of life (John 6:48). Deeply submerged in the presence of God, Peter sees a vision of food forbidden.

He recoils, saying, “Surely not, Lord! . . . I have never eaten anything impure or unclean” (Acts 10:14). A heavenly voice says, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15).

Peter’s perplexed, but at the same time, God is working his plan. Across town is a centurion seeking the one true God. He is a Gentile; he is, in a figurative sense, food forbidden. But God says to look for a man named Peter; and Peter, still wondering what the vision meant, sees three men from Cornelius approaching on the street below.

The Holy Spirit says to Peter, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” (Acts 10:19-20). Peter follows the men to Cornelius’ house and finds a crowd already waiting to hear the good news of Jesus, the Christ.

Cornelius tells Peter that, four days before, God promised to send a messenger. In that instant, Peter knew he was the messenger and that the vision meant the gospel is for all people, even Gentiles.

And as Peter began to tell Cornelius’ crowd how to make peace with God, the Holy Spirit descended upon them all, even those who were Gentile.

Oswald Chambers described God as the Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to such divine appointments.

You’ve seen how God did this in the lives of Peter and Cornelius; will you watch now for how God engineers divine encounters in the life you can no longer call your own?

Question: Do you expect God to be at work in your own life?

by Jon Walker
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Divine Appointments by Katherine Kehler
•  Conversation Starters to transition to Spiritual things
•  Salvation Explained

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The post Engineer at Work appeared first on Thoughts About God.