Divine appointments
And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. Acts 25:13
I’ve been in court hearings before. More than one of them. In my experience, it was stressful, inconvenient and increased the tension of the situation. I never considered court to be a divine appointment or thought about sharing my faith in those meetings. That was not the case with the apostle Paul. He considered every occasion a divine appointment. He followed God’s plan and direction so closely; he knew that God was orchestrating every audience Paul was given to share his testimony and salvation with those who showed up.
In today’s reading, it was no accident that Festus was the new procurer, and that king Agrippa came to Caesarea at that time. This was just another arrangement God had made for these to hear the gospel message. As soon as the king heard about Paul, he immediately wanted to hear what he had to say. Paul’s reputation had been one of controversy and everyone in that region knew who he was. King Agrippa was no exception. Each time Paul was called up to talk about the charges against him, he turned it into an opportunity for God’s story to be told. Paul trusted God’s perfect timing through the legal struggles and knew that His hand was on every hearing. He also seized these opportunities to share the good news of salvation and Paul believed that God was guiding him through each one of these legal proceedings. The apostle Paul did not take exception to being imprisoned, he just counted that as a whole new congregation to share God’s love and salvation with.
What about you? Do you see each meeting you have as a divine appointment orchestrated by God? Do you maintain your witness and testimony no matter what unforeseen circumstance you are in? You can begin to take advantage of every appointment in your day by committing it to God and asking His direction on how to share His love and your faith in Him. He will guide you and bring those into your day that are searching. Even if you do not see immediate results, know that you have planted seeds and God is watching over each word you share to grow it up in that person’s heart in the perfect timing.
Today I want to encourage you as you pray and make plans for the day, know that God is going to bring divine appointment into your life. Take time to talk with Him about the direction He has so you do not miss anything He has orchestrated. Be prepared to share His love with others that He happens to bring your way and trust that your words are being seeds planted in the prepared ground of each heart. Do not see setbacks and unplanned events as inconveniences, instead ask your heavenly Father how they can be turned into divine appointments to impact someone’s life for all eternity.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 25:13-27
13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.
14 When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,
15 about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him.
16 To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’
17 Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.
18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed,
19 but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
21 But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
23 So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in.
24 And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him.
26 I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.
27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”
The Daily Dose 