Divine Appointments: Sharing Jesus in Everyday Encounters

Divine Appointments: Your Role in Someone's Spiritual Journey

There's something powerful about recognizing that the people who cross our path aren't there by accident. Every conversation, every encounter, every seemingly random meeting carries the potential for eternal significance. We often think about our own spiritual journey, but what if we're actually positioned to be the catalyst for someone else's transformation?
The God Who Sees
The story of Hagar in Genesis 16 reveals something profound about God's character. Here was a woman in desperate circumstances—mistreated, pregnant, alone in the wilderness. She had fled from a difficult situation, finding herself at a well with nowhere else to turn. In that moment of isolation and pain, God met her there.

The angel of the Lord appeared to her with a message that would change everything. After this encounter, Hagar gave God a name that captures the essence of His nature: "You are the God who sees." She had experienced what it means to be truly seen—not just observed, but understood, valued, and cared for in her deepest need.

This well became more than just a water source. It became a place of divine appointment, a location where heaven intersected with earth, where human desperation met divine compassion.

Throughout Scripture, wells serve as significant meeting places. Jacob met Rachel at a well. Moses encountered Zipporah at a well. Abraham's servant found Rebekah at a well. These weren't coincidences—they were orchestrated encounters that changed the trajectory of lives and nations.
A Samaritan Woman's Transformation
Perhaps no well encounter is more famous than the one recorded in John 4. A Samaritan woman came to draw water at noon—an unusual time, likely chosen to avoid the judgment and gossip of other women who would come during cooler hours. Her life had been marked by broken relationships, disappointment, and social isolation.

But Jesus "needed" to go through Samaria. This wasn't the typical route for a Jewish teacher. Jews and Samaritans had deep-seated religious and ethnic tensions. Yet Jesus deliberately positioned Himself at that well at that specific time.

What unfolded was a masterclass in connection. Jesus started with something simple and natural—a request for water. He met her where she was, addressing her immediate context before transitioning to spiritual truth. He didn't condemn her past; He acknowledged it with clarity while offering her something far greater than she'd ever known.

The woman's perception was shaped by years of pain, rejection, and religious confusion. She wanted to debate theology—which mountain was the right place to worship? But Jesus redirected her focus: "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

God isn't primarily seeking people with perfect theology. He's seeking worshipers—people whose hearts incline toward Him, who can be still in His presence and also express worship with passion and authenticity.
Three Questions Everyone Asks
In this encounter, Jesus addressed three fundamental questions that every human heart asks:

Do you care for me? Jesus demonstrated care that went beyond surface-level interaction. He saw past her defenses, her reputation, and her circumstances to the person she truly was.

Can you help me? Jesus offered living water—transformation that would satisfy the deepest thirst of her soul. Her life would never be the same after this encounter.

Can I trust you? Jesus revealed His identity as the Messiah, giving her a reason to place her faith in Him completely.

When these three questions are answered, transformation becomes possible.
The Ripple Effect of One Testimony
What happened next is remarkable. The woman left her water jar—the very thing she'd come for—and ran back to her city. She didn't keep this encounter to herself. She didn't wait until she had everything figured out. She simply shared her story: "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

Her invitation was humble, questioning, authentic. And it was powerful.

Many Samaritans believed because of her testimony. Then Jesus stayed two days, teaching them directly, and many more believed because of His own words. But it all started with one woman's willingness to share what had happened to her.

Church history suggests this woman, named Photina, went on to lead countless people to faith—numbers comparable to what the apostles accomplished. She eventually died as a martyr for her faith. All because she encountered Jesus at a well and couldn't keep quiet about it.
Your Divine Appointments
Here's the profound truth: Jesus didn't just come for that Samaritan woman. He came for the people in her life—the ones He would reach through her testimony. And the same is true for you.

Jesus came for you, but He also came for the people in your life that He wants to reach through you. There's someone at your workplace, in your family, in your neighborhood, or in your social circle who needs an encounter with Jesus. And you might be the connection point.

How does this work practically?

First, connect with people. Show genuine care. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Jesus engaged with people others avoided—those with leprosy, women with shameful pasts, tax collectors, and outcasts. He saw value in every person.

A man who has friends must show himself friendly. Sometimes we hide behind personality labels—"I'm an introvert"—as if that exempts us from engaging with others. But we all exist on a spectrum, and we can all push past our comfort zones to connect authentically with people.

Second, share your story. Your testimony has more power than you realize. You don't need to be a theological expert. You simply need to share what God has done in your life.

Your story has three parts: your life before Christ, your encounter with Jesus, and how your life has changed since. Keep it simple. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. Don't make your past sound too glamorous—those "good old days" weren't actually good. Your best days are now.

The Apostle Paul stood before hostile audiences six different times, and each time he simply shared his personal testimony. He didn't argue or debate—he told his story. People can dispute your theology, but they can't dispute your lived experience.

Third, invite people to experience God. Extend simple invitations. "Would you join me for church this Sunday?" "Can I pray for you about that?" "Would you be open to talking more about faith?"

Dr. David Yonggi Cho, who built a church of one million members in South Korea, was won to Christ by a woman he met only once. She shared her testimony, and he never saw her again. But that one encounter changed his life and, through him, impacted millions.
The Season of Opportunity
We're entering a season when people are more aware of Jesus than at other times of the year. Lights go up, gifts are exchanged, and even secular culture acknowledges Christmas—the celebration of Christ's coming. This creates natural opportunities for spiritual conversations and invitations.

But here's what matters most: God loves the world. He loves the people you like and the people you don't like. He loves those you agree with and those you oppose. He loves the saints and the sinners. He loved you when you were far from Him, and He loves those who are far from Him now.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Before you ever called on His name, before you ever walked into a church, before you ever opened a Bible—God loved you. His love drew you to Him. And that same love is drawing others.

The question isn't whether God cares about the people in your life. The question is: Will you be faithful to connect, share your story, and invite them to encounter the God who sees?

You might be someone's divine appointment. Your simple invitation, your authentic testimony, your genuine care might be exactly what opens the door for someone to meet Jesus at their own well—to discover living water that satisfies forever.

Don't underestimate what God can do through your faithfulness. That difficult coworker, that family member who seems so far from faith, that neighbor you barely know—any of them could be one conversation away from transformation. And you might be the one God wants to use to make the introduction.