AN INTERRUPTION OR DIVINE APPOINTMENT?

Today's promise: The gift of salvation

An interruption or divine appointment?

[The Lord said,] "I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the furthest corners of the earth." When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers.

Acts 13:47-48 NLT

Jesus wants us to see that neighbor next door or the people sitting next to us on a plane or in a classroom are not interruptions to our schedule. They are there by divine appointment. Jesus wants you to see their needs, their loneliness, their longings, and he wants to give us the courage to reach out to them.

Rebecca Manley Pippert

Appointed to eternal life

When I read this verse, I am reminded that there are people around us whom God is pursuing. It may be the teenager down the street, a lonely coworker, a weary single parent, or even someone standing next to you in line at the bank. The world is full of men and women who have been crying out to God in the quiet desperation of their hearts or in the darkness of a long night. God has been working in their lives and stirring a desire for him. He wants to use us to be a light to them and bring them the good news of hope in Jesus Christ. Ask that his Spirit would show you those in your neighborhood or workplace who need to be the recipients of your prayers. He will help you to build relationships with them and be a vessel through whom God can share his love.

LORD, show me those in my neighborhood, my circle of friends, and my family that you want me to pray for and build relationships with. They may be the very people you have appointed to eternal life. Equip me to be a light to those who don't know you and to love them for Christ's sake.

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for June 21.

Digging Deeper: For more on salvation, read Why Sin Matters by Mark McMinn (Tyndale, 2004)

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House