Mark Batterson begins Chapter 7 (“Supernatural Synchronicity”) of The Grave Robber with a question regarding history’s most improbable circumstances as well as our daily happenstances: “Coincidence or providence?” As believers, we know, as Pastor Batterson states:
“There are no coincidences. Only providences. No accidents. Only divine appointments.”
Mark tells the story of his friend Kevin Ramsby, pastor of Revival Tabernacle in downtown Detroit. Kevin ministers to gangbangers and drug addicts. At 3:00 AM on August 4, 2009, Kevin was stabbed thirty-six times during an armed robbery. Six of the wounds were millimeters away from killing him or paralyzing him for life.
At Wesley’s sentencing, Kevin not only forgave his attacker, but befriended him. Because Wesley’s family and friends have disowned him, Kevin is his sole contact outside of prison. Pastor Batterson explains that forgiveness is simple, yet difficult:
“The true test of our faith is not our actions. It’s our reactions. It’s relatively easy to act like Jesus. It’s much harder to react like Him.”
Kevin’s courage and God’s grace transformed a horrific attack into a divine appointment for each individual on the police force or on the medical staff that attended Kevin and came to faith because of Kevin’s act of forgiveness- made possible solely by the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
Mark concludes: “Accident? Or divine appointment? It depends on your reaction.”
Today’s question: What divine appointments have you encountered following your vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Nowhere by accident”
