People We Meet

 

People We Meet

Have you ever wondered why God puts certain people in our lives? It’s easy to understand why there are people who come to us that encourage us or tend to our needs when we are sick or afflicted. Sometimes God places the right people in our life at the most opportune time. He sends someone to lift us up when we are feeling down.

He gives divine appointments for those who need one, just to help them have a new beginning. He gave Stephen and the Ethiopian Eunuch a divine appointment found in Acts 8:26-29. It shows God’s ability to arrange circumstances for the fulfillment of His purposes. Abraham’s servant who prayed to God to help him find a wife for Isaac. God led Rebekah to him. Genesis 24:12-14. Joseph’s journey to Egypt was a divine appointment that led to the preservation of the Israelites during a severe famine. Genesis 50:20. There are many more examples of divine appointments in the Bible but let us ponder the ones that God places in front of us that we don’t necessarily want to know.  There are people that come to us that may not smell right or dress according to our standards. Then there are those who enjoy taunting others and pestering people to no end. Why does God put these kinds of people before us. How do we behave around those people? Are you not aware that God loves them just as much as He loves you?

Here are some Biblical examples of people who are rejected: Lepers were covered with sores and were claimed unclean, but Jesus came up to the Leper and healed him. Matthew 8:1-4. What would you have done? I think many of you would have held your nose or walked away, ignoring him. Why would Jesus give us a commandment to Love one another as He has loved us and then put people in our life that we rather not have any contact with. I believe it is to teach us love, compassion, patience and selflessness. If you do not have these characteristics when God places an unwanted person before you then you don’t have the love of Jesus in your heart. He begs everyone to come to Him, even the smelly, dirty, foul-mouthed, disease-ridden people. He says, “Come to Me all you who are heavy ladened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.  Next time you meet someone you dislike, pray to God to help you see that person as God sees them. It will change your outlook and your attitude.