A Divine Appointment

We had already eaten dinner when Ellie and I were driving north on Interstate 5 to our home in Seattle. I was in a hurry because I needed to be at work the next morning and it was already dusk. A few miles past Redding, a California Highway Patrolman pulled us over because, unknown to us, our taillights were not working. He then followed us to make sure we took the next exit before he sped away. 

After exiting, we parked in the parking lot of a mini market. It was time to pray and develop a plan. But as I turned off the engine, a stranger came running up to the driver’s side of the car. His rapid approach alarmed me. I cautiously rolled down my window. He told me my taillights were not working. I smiled weakly and replied that a policeman had just told us the same thing.

At that moment, a second man arrived and joined the conversation. The two men were traveling together and seemed to know a lot more about cars than I did. Within a few minutes, they were removing panels from the trunk to access the taillights. Their overflowing kindness, generosity, and joy shocked me. One of them was white and one was a black man. One was from Columbus, Ohio, and the other from Buffalo, NY. They explained that they drove motor homes to dealers while towing a compact Toyota which they used to drive to their next job. They had stopped because they also were experiencing car problems. But instead of grumbling and complaining about their situation or working on their own car, they seemed eager and pleased to help us. A few minutes after meeting them I confirmed the obvious: they were disciples of Jesus. We all enjoyed our unexpected time of fellowship—four followers of Jesus who minutes before had been complete strangers, praising the goodness of God, in a dimly lit parking lot in the middle of nowhere while they worked on our car. 

They quickly determined they could not fix the problem but recommended a motel to us and gave us directions to the closest Toyota dealer. The following morning, we saw them again as we were waiting for our car to be fixed at the Toyota garage. They parked and greeted us. It felt like a reunion of old friends. Their kindness transformed our experience. The former strangers we had met just hours before now seemed like valued and trusted friends. We felt they were like angels, but they were just two men with a mission. They intentionally sought to serve Jesus by helping others wherever they went. Their joy in serving was both obvious and contagious. If I had not been a disciple of Jesus, I think I would have considered becoming one just because of their love for strangers expressed through selfless service. I concluded they enjoyed serving us as much as we enjoyed and appreciated their company and their assistance. We all celebrated the divine appointment that had brought us together. We were sad when they drove away.

You Go Nowhere by Accident

The late Richard Halvorson is one of my heroes. He was a pastor for decades and then became the chaplain to the United States Senate. I only spoke to him on a few occasions, but he has influenced me through the fourteen books he authored, his weekly devotionals, but especially through his benediction. 

I was not the only one who appreciated his benediction. Whenever he was asked about what part of his ministry had the most impact on people, he would inevitably reply, “My benediction.” Halvorson influenced tens of thousands of people, and his influence continues through his benediction. He concluded every worship service by reminding his congregation of a profound, yet simple truth with these words:

You go nowhere by accident.
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
He has a purpose in your being there.
Christ who indwells you has something he wants to do 
through you wherever you are.
Believe this. And go in his grace and love and power. Amen.

Halvorson also taught his congregation that the church is like water; it exists in three states. The church gathered (worship and fellowship), the church scattered (dispersed into the surrounding community and world), and the church triumphant (those who have died are now with Jesus). The benediction reminded the church gathered that Jesus was scattering them into the wider community like salt is shaken onto food (Matt 5:13-16). The primary work (service or ministry) of the church is not accomplished when the church is gathered, but when it is scattered.

Jesus called his disciples out of the world to be with him, but then he sent them back into the world to serve others. The risen Savior told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21). And just as Jesus had told them, they went everywhere—to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Halvorson consistently reminded those he served as a pastor “You go nowhere by accident!” When they left the church building, Jesus was sending them out as his representatives to love, serve, and witness to all those they met, like the two men that Ellie and I encountered near Redding, CA. They wholeheartedly embraced their role of serving others in the name of and for the sake of Jesus. The gathered church disperses into the world to serve and bless others as they go about their daily lives. They return to their normal routines and locations to do the real work of the church as faithful, but scattered disciples. Disciples continued Jesus’ mission, even in a dimly lit parking lot 2,500 miles from their homes. They recognized a divine appointment and then they joyfully and sacrificially represented the greatest Lead Servant of all, Jesus the Messiah. 

Ministry by Numbers

There are about 2.3 billion followers of Jesus in the world today. We comprise nearly 32% of the world’s population. What if each of us believed Jesus was serious when he said, “In the same way the Father sent me, I am sending you.” What would happen if all 2.3 billion of us were convinced that we are the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus to everyone we met? The first generation of disciples were far less than 1% of the population in Judea, faced acute persecution, and did not even have church buildings, but before the last of the original twelve disciples had died, they changed history. Communities of disciples had spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. I would not be writing this if those disciples had not faithfully continued Jesus’ mission.

Disciples love to be together. We gather to worship, pray, learn, and encourage one another. Then we scatter to serve Jesus wherever we are or whoever we are with. Try to imagine what 2.3 billion disciples/servants could accomplish if each of us seriously believed Jesus was sending us into the world to joyfully serve others in his name. But however much this truth may stretch our imaginations, Jesus really does scatter all his 2.3 billion followers into the world around us to serve and love others on his behalf. This is the strategy embedded in the Jesus Way. If we only focus on receiving the gospel benefits without sharing those benefits with others, we have left the Jesus Way. Faithful disciples are servants, and they serve joyfully wherever they go—just like Jesus did.

Another Story

My youngest daughter Julie went on a mission trip with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) to New Zealand for training and then to serve in Mozambique, Africa. She made many new friends. A year or so after she returned home, one of those friends came to our home near Seattle to visit Julie. He lived in central California and drove north on Interstate 5 for nearly eight-hundred miles to see her.  

Somewhere in central Oregon he followed a car with a license plate holder that said, “You Go Nowhere by Accident.” He noticed it but didn’t give it much thought as he drove on. But as miles and hours passed, he saw the same message on another license plate holder. After crossing the Columbia River and entering Washington he noticed several more cars bearing the same message, triggering his curiosity. What did it mean? A couple of hours later he pulled into our driveway and parked behind our car that displayed the same message. After exchanging joyous hugs with Julie and introductions, the first thing he asked was, “What does the message on your license plate holder mean and why is it on your car?” 

Ellie explained that it was part of the charge that I dismissed the congregation with when worship services ended. The women of the church had the phrase printed on license plate holders and sold them as a mission fund-raising project. Apparently, an unusual number of people from the church were driving north on I-5 that day. We were all surprised to learn how that message was being spread far and wide.

I modified Halvorson’s benediction and made it my own. But like Halvorson, if I were asked, “What part of my ministry had the most impact on people?” I would probably reply, “My benediction.” It reminds people of Jesus’ words as they are leaving worship, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (Jn 20:21). When disciples leave a gathering of his followers, Jesus is sending them, and they are entering the mission field where the work of the church is really done. Here is what my congregation heard every week:

Remember, you go nowhere by accident.
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
Wherever you are, God has put you there.
God has a purpose in placing you there.
Jesus goes with you and empowers you.
His Spirit ministers through you wherever you go or are.
Simply believe this and then go confidently in his name,
knowing that the love, joy, and grace of Almighty God,
Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit,
will be with you always. Amen.

I’ve been in many homes where that reminder hangs in a prominent location, including our home. Just as Richard Halvorson’s benediction was imprinted on my heart, so God has imprinted my version of it on the hearts of many in the congregations I have served.

We are apprentices of Jesus in Kingdom living. We understand and are convinced that Jesus is sending us as his agents to love and serve others wherever we go. This gives us a purpose in life that transcends our own well-being. Life begins to make more sense when you realize you have a mission bigger than your desires and dreams. Life becomes richer and more meaningful. We realize that even doing ordinary things with this purpose has eternal implications. We are sent by Jesus and filled with his Spirit to continue his mission. This is the Jesus Way, which is both a joyous privilege and a life-changing challenge. Embracing this challenge and living with a transcendent purpose is an essential part of Kingdom living. 

THINKING IT THROUGH

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 28:10

THE TRUTH: Jesus humbly and joyfully served others. This was an essential part of his mission and an expression of his holiness.

YOUR CHALLENGE: Jesus sends his disciples to represent him by humbly and joyfully serving others. This reflects Christlike character and is an essential part of our mission. 

The Scriptures, questions, and notes are for group discussion and personal reflection. Our goal in Tier III is character transformation which requires sustained effort and growing faith. Thinking through the questions can help you understand this challenge at a deeper level. We encourage you to focus on those questions that you find most interesting or helpful. This is not a test, but a tool to help you respond to the challenges.

Related Scriptures

Joshua 22:5 ⁵ Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

Joel 2:29 [Peter quoted this passage in his Pentecost message]
²⁹ In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. 

1 Corinthians 15:58 ⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

2 Corinthians 2:5 ⁵ You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 

Deuteronomy 3:24 ²⁴ ‘O Sovereign Lord, you have only begun to show your greatness and the strength of your hand to me, your servant.

Galatians 6:10 ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

1 Samuel 2:18 ¹⁸ But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord.

Colossians 4:5-6 ⁵ Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your words be seasoned with salt so that you will have the right response for everyone. 

Colossians 3:23-24 ²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

Questions

You are encouraged to use these questions for group discussion or personal reflection. Respond to the questions that are most relevant or interesting to you (I urge you to write your responses in a journal or notebook).

1. In your journal, make a list of every place you will go this week and the people you will encounter at each place. Then prayerfully think about ways you could be a lead servant by joyfully serving at least two of the people you will encounter.

2. Much of Part C, “Living with Purpose,” is built around what the risen Lord said to his disciples: “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21, also see Jn 17:18). The narrative says, “We [disciples] understand and are convinced that Jesus is sending us as his agents to love and serve others wherever we go.” Do you think of yourself as being commissioned and sent by Jesus? Or to state it differently, are you a man or a woman with a mission in life that transcends your own well-being and desires? If not, why not?

3. The narrative continues, “Life begins to make more sense; it feels richer and more meaningful. We realize that even doing ordinary things with this purpose has eternal implications” and concludes, “living with a transcendent purpose is an essential part of Kingdom living.” Do you think this is true or do think it exaggerates the benefits of living with a transcendent purpose? Why or why not?

4. The phrase “you go nowhere by accident” plays a significant role in Part C, “Living with Purpose.” What does it mean to you?

5. Explain and/or critique either Halverson’s benediction or my revised version. 

6. Reread the opening story, A Divine Appointment, and either:

   1. Explain why you think those two good Samaritans that assisted my wife and me near Redding California were so joyful.

   2. I called it a “Divine appointment.” Tell a story of something that happened to you that you think may have been a Divine appointment. 

7. “Living with Purpose” focuses almost entirely on serving other people with a particular need. This is vitally important and can bring a tremendous sense of personal satisfaction and meaning. But it may fall short of being a transcendent event. Read Matthew 25:31-46 (contained in 10 A) and explain how helping other people can become a transcendent experience that transcends doing a good deed. 

8. In Col 3:23-24 Paul advises slaves to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” Explain why or why not you think this is good advice for lead servants.

Copyright © 2024 Don Waite

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