Proverbs 16

Divine Appointments // Micah

Have you ever went somewhere for one reason only to find another dominant purpose emerge?

It was late by the time I arrived at the home of this "young in the faith" Haitian staff person. He had lived a very hard life, suffered deep and intense physical and spiritual trial and had spent more of his life nearly dying than actually living. Through the ministry, he and his household had come to know Christ and had begun experiencing powerful renewal. As the candles flickered low and the evening wound down I surveyed their one-room house a final time, as if to memorialize the low lit scene. I thanked them for their hospitality and got up to leave when something in the corner caught my eye.

"Why," I asked "is their now 4 pairs of feet sticking out of your bed?”

This recently homeless man smiled, and in a very calm unassuming tone simply responded, "through Vapor Ministries God has taken care of my family, so we felt God would have my family take in these two orphans. We prayed that God would provide for us and have committed to show His love to others in need."

I slipped into the cover of darkness quickly as my eyes began to fill. As I sat in the still of that evening my heart nearly burst until overflowed and poured itself out through substance rich tears. Here I was before a brother barely on his feet yet serving from His knees. I had come to encourage and teach yet left having being blessed and instructed. That night a more weighty and transformative truth was expressed inside the tin walls of that home than what could be found in a stack of well formed sermons. What a privilege to sit at the feet of a new Christ follower who was preaching the Gospel with His life and teaching me the Christian Faith in the most compelling ways.

I left resolved to move into mission with greater sensitivity and predetermined surrender to the work God is up to in divine appointments.

I John 3:16-17 "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?"

Proverbs 16:9 “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way."

- Micah McElveen