Ordained
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV )
I have had so many revelations since my trip to Canada. The plane ride back to the USA was long, mostly because I was disappointed that I forgot to bring a book. But as I started thinking about the wedding it occurred to me that I had been hand-picked to be at the wedding. The Scripture above reminds me that wherever I am, God has ordained it.
I wondered how God’s light could shine through me at a wedding when everyone’s focus would be on the bride and groom. To my surprise, God sent me to a wedding in Canada to shine brightly to some hurting people.
The seating arrangements at the reception were different from anything I had experienced. As we walked into the reception area we were instructed to pick a number out of a jar. The number you picked was where you were to sit. When my husband and I went to our table there were no more seats. Several couples had decided they wanted to sit with friends and were not interested in moving. So, they offered us their numbers. My husband, being the kind gentleman that he is, agreed to let them sit together and we moved to another table.
As God would have it, the table we were at is exactly where God ordained us to be. We hit it off really well with the couples at our table. We ate together, danced together and had lots of laughs. It was so much fun we even exchange information so we could get together again. Later in the evening one of the gentlemen started talking about religion. How he got on that subject, I will never know. I had no idea he was speaking to my husband about religion and his beliefs until my husband turned politely to me and said to the gentleman, “My wife is the minister. Talk to her.” lol
I listened to this guy tell me how he could never forgive those who inflicted so much pain on him and his race. He said, “Religion tells you to forgive and I am not forgiving anyone for what they did.” He talked about religion and why he did not believe in it. He was so full of pain that he was angry. I just listened to him talk for about 30 minutes. I never interrupted him. Finally, he stopped and said, “That is why no one can persuade me to believe in religion.” While he was speaking I was praying. I knew this was God’s opportunity to use me as His vessel. I said to him, “You do not have to forgive anyone. How about just having a relationship with God? Forget the religion. God did not invite us to religion; He invited us into relationship with Him.” [“If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9).] The gentleman was extremely quiet. There was silence for a while as he stared at me and began to nod his head. God did not prompt me to use Scriptures or say anything else. He had given our friend what he needed to hear.
Later that evening, his girlfriend came and spoke to me about her beliefs. She wanted someone to hear her who would not judge her for her lifestyle. She was pained because of religion as well. She was not angry; she just wanted God to be pleased with her. We had a great conversation and I was elated that God would take me all the way to Canada to share with others His words.
We all have been called and sent by God for a purpose. Most of the time we don’t even realize it. This interaction with that couple reminded me of God sending Paul to Rome to appeal to Caesar for his freedom. When actually, Paul preached to the Roman citizens about Christ for two years before he appeared before Caesar. As Ambassadors of Christ we need to always be expecting God to have already set up a plan for us to let His light shine. That is why we are here. I was focused on the wedding but God had an ultimate plan that would save someone’s life.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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