Last week I watched a video where Manjeet said something that really provoked me: "I believe every person in front of you is put there for a reason."

It hit me hard because, honestly, I don't naturally think like this. But as I sat with Majeet's words, I realized there's compelling biblical evidence that challenges my compartmentalized thinking.

A Divine Appointment Theology

The Bible paints a picture of a God who orchestrates encounters with stunning intentionality:

• Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) - An angel literally redirects Philip to a desert road at the exact moment a seeking heart is reading Isaiah

• Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10) - Simultaneous visions coordinate a meeting that would change the trajectory of the early church

• Paul's "Macedonian call" (Acts 16:6-10) - The Holy Spirit blocks certain paths and opens others, leading to Europe's first convert (Lydia)

But it's not just dramatic moments. Look at Jesus' ministry:

• The woman at the well - a "chance" encounter during a rest stop (John 4)

• Zacchaeus in the tree - Jesus "happened" to look up at just the right moment (Luke 19)

• The paralyzed man by the pool - Jesus finds him in a crowd of the long term sick (John 5)

And then there's Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Read that again. God prepared works in advance. That means the person sitting next to you on the train, the barista making your coffee, the colleague who "randomly" stops by your desk - they might not be random at all.

So What Does This Mean for Us as We Seek to Become Disciples Who Make Disciples?

1. Change Your View of God's Design

Years ago, Caroline and I took a day trip to London. We desperately needed a break after an intense ministry season, and we had a lovely day together - museums, coffee shops, walking hand-in-hand through the city.

On the train home, she asked if I'd enjoyed it. "Absolutely," I said. "Though I was a bit disappointed we didn't get a chance to share Jesus with anyone. We just didn't have any opportunities."

She looked at me like I'd grown a second head.

"Simon, we had loads of opportunities. I just wasn't taking them because I thought we were just wanting to have the day just you and me"

She was right. I'd mentally filed the day under "personal time" and switched off my disciple-making radar. But God doesn't work in compartments. He weaves kingdom opportunities into the fabric of ordinary life.

The shift: Stop waiting for "ministry moments" and start recognizing that every moment is designed by God. The checkout queue, the school gate, the gym - these aren't interruptions to the mission. They are the mission field.

2. Change Your View of God's Plan

Ephesians 2:10 isn't just poetic language - it's a staggering reality. God has a plan to use you. He's prepared good works in advance for you to walk into.

We don't fully understand the mechanics of divine sovereignty and human responsibility working together. But we don't need to solve that mystery to live in its reality.

The shift: Start your day with this prayer: "God, who have you prepared for me to meet today? Open my eyes to the appointments you've already scheduled."

When you see your day as pre-loaded with divine appointments, you move through it with holy expectancy rather than mundane routine.

3. Change Your View of God's Presence

If God has genuinely sent you into situations to represent him, do you think he'd leave you to figure it out alone?

Right at the heart of Jesus' Great Commission sending moment, he makes this promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

Not "I'll be with you during church services" or "I'll be with you when you feel ready." Always.

That means when you're nervous about speaking to your neighbor, Jesus is there. When you don't know what to say to the grieving colleague, Jesus is there. When you feel inadequate to pray for someone's healing, Jesus is there.

The shift: Before engaging with people, take a breath and remind yourself: "Jesus is here with me right now. I'm not doing this alone."

4. Change Your View of God's Power

Here's what's easy to miss when we read the Gospels: most of Jesus' miracles didn't happen in synagogues or temple courts. They happened in everyday situations.

• At a wedding reception (John 2)

• On a fishing boat (Luke 5)

• At a funeral procession (Luke 7)

• In someone's home (Mark 2)

• By a roadside (Mark 10)

Jesus demonstrated that God's power isn't confined to religious settings. The Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11), and that power is available in the coffee shop, the office, the park.

The shift: Start expecting God to move in ordinary places. When someone mentions they're unwell, offer to pray - right there, right then. When you sense the Holy Spirit prompting you to speak a word of encouragement, don't wait for a "more appropriate" moment.

What Now?

This week, I'm challenging myself (and you) to live as if Majeet's statement is absolutely true: every person in front of you is there for a reason.

What if we started seeing every encounter as a potential divine appointment?

It would change everything.

I'd love to hear from you: Have you ever had an encounter that felt like a divine appointment? Or maybe you missed one and realized it later? Hit reply and tell me about it.

Let's learn to see what God is already doing all around us.

Standing with you

Simon

P.S. – If this resonates with you, would you forward it to one friend who needs to hear it? Let's help each other develop eyes to see the divine appointments God is orchestrating every single day.