The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”- John 4:49-50
As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 7 of The Grave Robber, he cites the carefully crafted benediction of then Senate Chaplain Dr. Richard Halverson. Dr. Halverson believed his most important pastoral function was pronouncing this benediction, week in and week out:
“You go nowhere by accident.
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
Wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in you being there.
Christ, who indwells you, has something He wants to do through you where you are.
Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.”
At the conclusion of Dr. Halverson’s funeral in 1995, he reminded his congregation for one last time, giving the benediction himself that he had prerecorded.
Although we may not be where we want to be, Pastor Batterson reminds us that God can use us right there- even if we’re on an uneventful trip to the grocery store. Wherever we are headed, God is setting up divine appointments along the way. These appointments are harder to recognize closer to home because we are operating on autopilot. Mark adds:
“Don’t be in such a hurry to get where you’re going that you miss the miracles along the way or the miracles that may be out of your way!”
Today’s question: How does Dr. Halverson’s benediction impact your desert, land between journey? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Supernatural synchronicities”
