Something that Jesus has been teaching me a lot about lately
is "distinct encounters."
I encounter a lot of people on a normal day. Conversations.
Phrases. A wave or a smile. Nothing out of the ordinary most times.
Occasionally though, I have a distinct encounter with someone.
Distinct encounters are just that. Distinct. They stick out
and stay in your mind. Sometimes you know why they are distinct. Maybe it led
to an incredible conversation. Other times, it's just a feeling.
I kept having these encounters and so I started asking Jesus,
"Why? What are you trying to teach me?"
It came to my mind then, that Jesus had distinct encounters.
The Bible is full of them. Jesus healing the servant's ear after Peter cut it
off. The woman touching Jesus' robe and being healed. Jesus calming the storm.
The Bible is all about distinct encounters. Both in the
ordinary and the extraordinary.
Luke 10:5-7 says,
"5 Whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if
not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house,
eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages.
Don’t be moving from house to house."
Don't be like Sheldon...this is not the way to love people. Ha ha!
Sons of peace are the people that ask the
questions. They want to know more. These encounters aren't forced. They are
natural and smooth flowing.
This is why it is important to live life and listen to the
Holy Spirit. You never know what small encounter will become a distinct
encounter. Distinct encounters alter the courses of days, and often lives.
There are many times in my life that I can look back and
say, "This happened and it changed me." Be that person for other
people.
Do something about it.
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Practice starting your day off every morning
asking Jesus to provide distinct encounter opportunities to you. Start off with
making an effort to connect with people. You don't know how conversations will
go if you don't connect with people.
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Explore the Bible for distinct encounters. How
was the person's life changed? (Joseph in jail, Jacob wrestling with an angel,
Saul becoming Paul, Ruth meeting Boaz)
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Be open to how they look, or don't look. No
expectations, just go with it. I have talked to people in the deli line, in
parking lots, at the gym.
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Acts
10:34-35 - "Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really
understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but
in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable
to Him."
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When you talk to people, meet them where they
are. Get into their worlds. Meet their people. Eat their foods.
"Sometimes God uses unexpected encounters to bring unexpected
blessings."
We serve an incredible, limitless God who uses the most
interesting circumstances to bring about great change. That is the way to
"be a fisher of man."
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