Divine Appointments

The will of God is not always easy to discern. I would like to say that when I get up every morning, the Mission Impossible theme song plays in the background while I listen to a message that says, "Good morning, Mr. Laurie. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go to the gas station at 12:45 p.m. A man named Joe will be pumping gas. Your mission is to share Jesus Christ with him. This message will self-destruct in ten seconds."

That has never happened to me. Here’s how it might happen instead. I get into my car and see that the fuel is low, so I decide to drive to the gas station. As I’m standing there at the pump, I start chitchatting with a guy who’s also pumping gas. One thing leads to another, and the next thing you know, this guy has accepted the Lord.

I had the choice whether to talk to that person. Maybe he said hi. I had the choice to blow him off, to keep the conversation short, or to extend it. And ultimately, I had the choice as to whether I would share Christ with him.

Many times we aren’t thinking about or looking for opportunities like these. Yet it can actually be a sin not to share the gospel with others. James 4:17 tells us, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."

God uses us when we are out and about doing normal things and taking steps of faith. That is how the Christian life works. We read the Word of God. We take the principles of the Word of God and put them into practice. We pray that the Lord will guide our steps. And then we go.