Food for Thought
Perhaps in your life you have had many unusual meetings with people, some in quite unexpected places or circumstances.
It is interesting to think about the unusual places and unusual circumstances where characters of the New Testament met Jesus. Perhaps one of the most unusual is the shepherds of the Christmas story. People who because of their occupation were deemed to be on the lowest rung of the social totem pole. But God used angels to invite them to meet the newborn king.
How about the disciple Peter? From all appearances, a happy fisherman. Liked his job. In the disappointing time between the crucifixion and the resurrection he was thinking about going back fishing. But Jesus met this fisherman right in the middle of the messy and smelly net cleaning/mending routine. His life was changed.
How about Saul? (The New Testament Saul) He met Jesus, someone who he had heard about but apparently had never met. He hated his teaching, but Jesus met him in the middle of the dusty road to Damascus. A name change was only the beginning of life transformation for Saul.
How about the Philippian Jailor? In the middle of the night, in the aftermath of a jail shattering earthquake he is introduced to Jesus by the imprisoned apostles.
How about Zachaeus? From his perch in the treetops, he hears Jesus invite himself to a luncheon date in Zachaeus’ house.
One of the things I like to do when I meet new people is ask them how they met Jesus. Interestingly enough many of their stories do involve unique situations, unusual circumstances, or out of the way places. One of the things that this has confirmed for me is that God is more than willing to use the unusual to draw people to himself.
The key point I want to make in this food for thought is that it matters not how or where you came to meet the Lord, to place your faith and trust in him, to ask forgiveness and commit to live for and serve him. What really matters is if you have!
Pastor Dave