May 23 2025

Friday May 23

Luke 19:28-35 – Divine Appointments

28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' " 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we're looking at Luke chapter 19. Yesterday, we talked about Jesus sending two of His disciples ahead when He was at the Mount of Olives to go to a village and find a colt tied by a door. Mark's gospel says it was where two ways met. Today, I want to talk about divine appointments.

That colt tied by the door is a beautiful picture of a sinner tied by their sins, right outside the door of salvation, where two roads cross—one leading to destruction, the other to life. What a picture of how God wants us to go out and find people that He is working in, preparing their hearts to come to Jesus Christ.

It’s a mystery to me how we have the Great Commission to share the gospel with every creature, yet at the same time God is sovereignly working in people’s hearts, preparing them to receive it. Sometimes He uses trials, troubles, or difficulties; sometimes it’s His providential care that brings them to a sense of needing something they don’t have, something money or family can’t provide. They feel a deep dissatisfaction with life and are searching for truth. God is working in their lives, and He needs someone to tell them about Jesus.

Think of Cornelius, the centurion who was a good, godly man in a sense—he prayed and gave alms, yet he didn’t know Jesus. An angel told him to find Peter, who would share what he needed to do. The angel couldn’t share the gospel, but Peter was available, and the Holy Spirit sent him to deliver the message to Cornelius.

I also think of Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, in Genesis 24 that was sent to find a bride for Isaac. Abraham told him not to take Isaac to the land he was going to but to find a bride and bring her back. If she wouldn’t come, Eliezer would be free from his oath. We’re like that servant, sent by God to find a bride for Christ. Eliezer came to a well where Rebekah was drawing water. He prayed, asking God to show him the right woman for his master’s son, and when Rebekah offered to draw water for him and his camels, his prayer was answered. He worshipped, saying, “I, being in the way, the Lord led me.” (Genesis 24:27).

My friend, there are people everywhere waiting for someone to tell them about Jesus. God has prepared their hearts—they’re like that colt tied by the door of salvation, just a step away from eternal life. They need someone to loose them with the power of the resurrection message of Jesus Christ. Paul said, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ; it’s the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Wednesday, I was out with a friend named Ben, having lunch. Our waitress kept coming to our table, and we had the opportunity to invite her to Ben’s church, and also tell her about the Lord. She promised to come with her husband. I believe everywhere we go, there’s someone waiting to hear about God’s kindness and Christ’s love, someone we can show the way to salvation.

Divine appointments—I’ve had them all my life. On planes, in hotel rooms, at restaurants, at gas stations, on my neighborhood streets, at sports events, and many other places! How exciting it is to look back and see what the Lord did when we were just in the way, and He directed our steps. The same can be true for you today. Trust the Lord—there’s someone waiting for you to untie them and bring them to Jesus. When Jesus sat on that colt, that had been never ridden before, everything was fine. Jesus can change a life and still does today.

I trust you will be looking for a divine appointment today. Someone is waiting for you!

God bless!