Luke 19:28-35 - Divine Appointments

Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Today we're looking at Luke chapter 19. Yesterday, we talkedabout Jesus sending two of His disciples ahead when He was at the Mount ofOlives to go to a village and find a colt tied by a door. Mark's gospel says itwas where two ways met. Today, I want to talk about divine appointments. Thatcolt tied by the door is a beautiful picture of a sinner tied by their sins,right outside the door of salvation, where two roads cross—one leading todestruction, the other to life. What a picture of how God wants us to go outand find people that He is working in, preparing their hearts to come to JesusChrist. It’sa mystery to me how we have the Great Commission to share the gospel with everycreature, yet at the same time God is sovereignly working in people’s hearts,preparing them to receive it. Sometimes He uses trials, troubles, ordifficulties; sometimes it’s His providential care that brings them to a senseof needing something they don’t have, something money or family can’t provide.They feel a deep dissatisfaction with life and are searching for truth. God isworking in their lives, and He needs someone to tell them about Jesus. Thinkof Cornelius, the centurion who was a good, godly man in a sense—he prayed andgave alms, yet he didn’t know Jesus. An angel told him to find Peter, who wouldshare what he needed to do. The angel couldn’t share the gospel, but Peter wasavailable, and the Holy Spirit sent him to deliver the message to Cornelius. Ialso think of Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, in Genesis 24 that was sent to find abride for Isaac. Abraham told him not to take Isaac to the land he was going tobut to find a bride and bring her back. If she wouldn’t come, Eliezer would befree from his oath. We’re like that servant, sent by God to find a bride for Christ.Eliezer came to a well where Rebekah was drawing water. He prayed, asking Godto show him the right woman for his master’s son, and when Rebekah offered todraw water for him and his camels, his prayer was answered. He worshipped,saying, “I, being in the way, the Lord led me.” (Genesis 24:27). Myfriend, there are people everywhere waiting for someone to tell them aboutJesus. God has prepared their hearts—they’re like that colt tied by the door ofsalvation, just a step away from eternal life. They need someone to loose themwith the power of the resurrection message of Jesus Christ. Paul said, “I’m notashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ; it’s the power of God unto salvation toeveryone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Wednesday,I was out with a friend named Ben, having lunch. Our waitress kept coming toour table, and we had the opportunity to invite her to Ben’s church, and also tellher about the Lord. She promised to come with her husband. I believe everywherewe go, there’s someone waiting to hear about God’s kindness and Christ’s love,someone we can show the way to salvation. Divineappointments—I’ve had them all my life. On planes, in hotel rooms, at restaurants,at gas stations, on my neighborhood streets, at sports events, and many otherplaces! How exciting it is to look back and see what the Lord did when we werejust in the way, and He directed our steps. The same can be true for you today.Trust the Lord—there’s someone waiting for you to untie them and bring them toJesus. When Jesus sat on that colt, that had been never ridden before,everything was fine. Jesus can change a life and still does today.Itrust you will be looking for a divine appointment today. Someone is waitingfor you!