Text: Acts 11:27-30
Memory verse:
”And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.“
Titus 3:14 NKJV
Divine interruption is an unplanned change in our lives that is caused by God. He can break into our schedules, programs, routines, or appointments to establish His divine purpose. Some interruptions in our lives are simply unexpected delays or setbacks. God also interrupts our journeys in life to teach us submission and to make us fruitful.
According to our memory text today, Paul directed Titus to teach the brethren to give room for divine interruptions in their Christian service in order to be fruitful.
“Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.” (Titus 2:14 NLT).
A proof of fruitfulness is not only that we are doing good works but that we also respond to needs, which are outside our plans, convenience, schedules, or to-do lists. Sometimes, a financial need arises in the midst of a normal day or when we have already concluded our budget.
While God doesn’t want us to have a disorganized lifestyle, yet He doesn’t want us to be so rigid as not to be able to accommodate His interruptions. He interrupted Moses’ plans while shepherding in the desert (Exod 3:1-2,10). He interrupted the widow of Zarehphat’s food plan (1 Kings 17:11-13). He interrupted Peter’s plan to go home and rest after a rigorous night of fruitless fishing (Luke 5:1-3). He interrupted Joseph of Arimathea’s plan to be buried in the tomb which he had prepared for himself (John 19:39-41).
Some people are too rigid and too bureaucratic for God to bend. They always think that they are wiser than God. They lose out at the end.
Urgent works can be to provide for the needs of others like the Antioch church did for the church in Jerusalem during famine, according to our text. It was not part of their budget, yet they responded.
It could also be to build the house of the Lord, like it happened in the days of Zerubabbel (Hag 1:7). Above all, the work of the gospel is an urgent work which we must always attend to, whether convenient or not convenient (2 Tim 4:2; John 9:4; 2 Cor 6:2).
Friends, do you allow God to interrupt your program, time, schedule, and your finances? Don’t be too rigid and too bureaucratic for God. Recognize His sovereignty, set out your plans, but make God the principal executioner.
Prayer points
1. Father, let me never resist when You interrupt my program in order to establish Your purpose for my life, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, help me to discern between a divine interruption and satanic opposition in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. Divine interruption is necessary for my fruitfulness.
2. Even though I set my plans and prepare my budget, I also respond to urgent work.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng