BACK: “When the Spirit of God has shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every kind of man there is.” -Oswald Chambers Every day we have opportunities-divine appointments-to introduce broken and lost people to Christ and plant seeds of faith. But many Christians remain unaware of these divine opportunities, or they stumble over their fear of rejection and feelings of inadequacy. The fact is, in order to participate in God’s redemptive plan for unsaved people, we must view faith-sharing opportunities as calling, rather than as mere coincidence. From the very first page, Divine Appointments inspires and brings awareness of God’s desire that all believers share the good news with those who cross their paths. This book provides a step-by-step approach to help you make sharing Christ a way of life. Matthew Jacks writes, “If you have accepted Jesus Christ, you can trust that the Holy Spirit hovers in and around you at all times. And He’s got big plans for each day that go beyond earning a living, caring for your family, and enjoying leisure time. The Holy Spirit appoints each of us to God’s great welcoming committee. We all have a role in shaking hands with those for whom God is a stranger and sharing His love through word and deed.” As you read this book, ask God to increase your awareness of divine-appointment opportunities and stay constantly ready to bring Christ’s life-giving news to the people you encounter each day. FRONT FLAP: A woman of unsavory reputation avoids the smirks and stares of her neighbors by drawing water at the town well during the hottest part of the day. But instead of getting just a jug of water, she receives back her dignity and the assurance of an unquenchable water source. A tax collector, loathed by his fellow townsmen, becomes part of the crowd listening to a famous rabbi. Suddenly he picks up his moneybox and becomes not only a follower, but the author of the first gospel. A leper, shunned by those he knows, experiences the miraculous-a stranger’s hand on his shoulder and the restoration of his diseased body and soul. What did all these people from various walks of life have in common? They met Jesus through a divine encounter and were made whole. Today all Christians are called to be “Jesus with skin on.” We have been called to help the unsaved recognize their need for the Savior. Jesus didn’t waste His time on “accidental” contacts-He was always available to show them His heart of compassion. The authors write: “God won’t waste your time by giving you mistaken divine appointments. If you sense an opportunity to share, be bold enough to trust that it’s orchestrated by the Holy Spirit and that you can act on that prompting-regardless of the results.” If you are willing, the Holy Spirit will fill your “calendar” with divine appointments that produce eternal results.
A woman of unsavory reputation avoids the smirks and stares of her neighbors by drawing water at the town well during the hottest part of the day. But instead of getting just a jug of water, she receives back her dignity and the assurance of an unquenchable water source. A tax collector, loathed by his fellow townsmen, becomes part of the crowd listening to a famous rabbi. Suddenly he picks up his moneybox and becomes not only a follower, but the author of the first gospel. A leper, shunned by those he knows, experiences the miraculous—a stranger’s hand on his shoulder and the restoration of his diseased body and soul.
What did all these people from various walks of life have in common? They met Jesus through a divine encounter and were made whole. Today all Christians are called to be "Jesus with skin on." We have been called to help the unsaved recognize their need for the Savior. Jesus didn’t waste His time on "accidental" contacts—He was always available to show them His heart of compassion.
The authors write: "God won’t waste your time by giving you mistaken divine appointments. If you sense an opportunity to share, be bold enough to trust that it’s orchestrated by the Holy Spirit and that you can act on that prompting—regardless of the results." If you are willing, the Holy Spirit will fill your "calendar" with divine appointments that produce eternal results.