September 24, 2004
God's Appointments
Read: Proverbs 16:1-9
A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. —Proverbs 16:9
Bible In One Year: Song of Solomon 4-5; Galatians 3
Life-changing events do not happen by accident. They are not determined by the stars. They are not by chance. There is no such thing as chance. The Lord uses every situation in life to accomplish His purposes.
Frank W. Boreham (1871-1959), British pastor and essayist, said, "It was not by chance that Elijah and Ahab met on the grassy slopes of Carmel. It was not by chance that Herod and John met on the highways in Galilee. It was not by chance that Pilate and Jesus met in the judgment hall at Jerusalem. It was not by chance that Peter and Cornelius met on the Syrian seaboard. It was not by chance that Philip and the Ethiopian met on the sandy road to Gaza. It was not by chance that Nero and Paul met amid the antique splendors of ancient Rome. . . . No, our meetings are no more by chance than the meeting of Stanley and Livingstone in Central Africa."
We should begin each day with a sincere desire to please the Lord, gladly anticipating His appointments for us. They may be circumstances that are unplanned, or the people we meet unexpectedly. But we should welcome them as opportunities to witness, to serve others, and to grow spiritually.
Recognizing God's sovereign leading, let us rejoice in His appointments. —Richard De Haan
Such is God's great design;
He orders all our steps below
For purposes divine. —Peterson
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The stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord as well as his steps. —Müller