August 10, 2015
Divine Appointments
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
And when He (Jesus) went ashore, he saw a great multitude, and He felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34 NASB).
Friend to Friend
As we go throughout our busy days, we are continually met with opportunities to impact others with the words we speak. Yes, our words influence family, friends, and fellow believers. But it is the man in front of us in line at the grocery store, the woman at the checkout counter, the waiter in the restaurant, the fellow passenger on the airplane, or the neighbor across the street who might be your special assignment for the day. Those are the people that God brings across our paths who may need a word of encouragement most of all.
Jesus was a very busy man. And yet, he was never too busy to offer a kind word to the men and women who crossed His path on a daily basis.
He stopped and spoke to the diminutive Zacchaeus perched in a tree to get a better look at the parade of followers.
He took a break from his travels to engage in one of his longest recorded conversations with a weary woman at a well with a sullied reputation.
He interrupted his schedule to comfort a mother in the funeral procession of her only son.
He took time to deliver a demon-possessed man who stood in his way on the shore.
He noticed a lame man among many who crowded around the pools of Bethesda waiting for the healing waters to stir.
He encouraged the distraught Peter after his denial.
He comforted his crying mother as she stood at the foot of the cross.
He instructed the frustrated fishermen as he stood watching from the shore.
Jesus noticed…and then he offered words and deeds of comfort and concern.
It appears that each of these incidents in Jesus’ life was an interruption in his busy schedule, but they were not interruptions at all. Each encounter was a divine appointment from His Heavenly Father who controlled the moments of Jesus’ days. Could it be that God is sending you out on special assignment each time you cross the thresholds of your home? I think so.
Let’s be on the lookout for the special assignment God puts in our paths today.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see the people whom I pass today who need a word of encouragement, a word of acknowledgement, or a word of thanks. Help me to slow down enough to see the needs standing right in front of me. Thank You for giving Jesus as our example of how to care for a hurting world.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Can you think of a time when someone, perhaps even a stranger, said a kind word that brightened your day?
Is so, click over to my Facebook page and tell me about it. Let’s compare notes.
Make it a point to encourage five people today. Consider your errands or your workplace a ministry opportunity.
More from the Girlfriends
One of the most powerful forces in the universe is the words you speak. They can encourage a child to accomplish great feats; a husband to reach for his dreams; and a friend to get up and try again. Your words can change the course of someone’s day…the course of someone’s life. If you would like to learn more about how to use your words to speak life into others and to tame your tongue, then check out The Power of A Woman’s Words. It also has a separate study guide and DVD.
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