In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree … — Luke 2:1
You never know how God is going to use an event in your life. When I was a high school student, I was consumed with the idea of winning the national high school debate tournament. I spent every spare moment working on debate, researching the topic for that year, combing through books from the University Law Library that would put any normal person fast asleep in six minutes flat.
My mother decided I needed some balance in my life, so, one hot summer day, she hauled me off to the East Side Businessmen’s Carnival. It was terrible — noise, and rides, and junk food — and, well, maybe it wasn’t so bad, even if I was kicking and screaming the whole way.
On the way out I walked through a large tent. A woman was passing out literature. She looked at me. I looked at her. We both hesitated.
I had no idea that the rest of my life hung in that moment of hesitation.
Okay, I decided. I’ll take your tract.
We talked. That conversation got our family into a different church. That church got me to attend Moody Bible Institute, where I met my wife. And everything in my life has flowed from that.
What are senseless, arbitrary and random events to God? They are an opportunity to intervene for good.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.