Big Buts of the Bible

An Excerpt from Chapter 9 ~ A Devotional Reflection

Take a quick look through Matthew chapters 8–20.

Earlier in this chapter I mentioned an implied but—one that is familiar to all of us. An interruption.

As you scan through these chapters, notice how often Jesus is on His way somewhere when someone or something interrupts Him. A leper approaches. A Roman officer pleads for help. A grieving father falls at His feet. A woman reaches through a crowd. Blind men cry out. A messenger arrives. The crowds press in.

Over and over again, Jesus is interrupted.

Or is He?

Last chapter we considered how Jesus’ ministry was occasional—not that He ministered only on occasion, but that He ministered as occasions arose. Jesus seemed remarkably open to the possibility that interruptions were often opportunities. What others might have viewed as inconveniences, He often treated as divine appointments.

I wonder how many of us spend our days trying to avoid interruptions.

We have our schedules, our plans, our responsibilities, and our destinations. We have places to go and things to accomplish. An unexpected phone call, a struggling coworker, a neighbor who wants to talk, a friend who needs encouragement, a child who needs attention, or a stranger who crosses our path can feel like obstacles standing in the way of what we intended to do.

But what if some of those interruptions are actually invitations?

What if God is at work not only in the things we plan, but also in the things we never saw coming?

Many of the people Jesus encountered that day had no appointment. They weren’t on the schedule. They simply appeared in His path carrying needs, questions, fears, grief, sickness, loneliness, or desperation. And Jesus made room for them.

That doesn’t mean every interruption is from God or that every request must become our responsibility. Even Jesus occasionally withdrew from the crowds to rest and pray. But He lived with a holy flexibility—a willingness to let compassion interrupt His agenda.

Perhaps that’s worth considering.

As you move through your day today, leave a little room for the unexpected. Be attentive to the people God places in your path. The cashier who seems discouraged. The friend who lingers after everyone else has left. The family member who needs a listening ear. The coworker whose smile doesn’t quite hide their struggle.

You may discover that some of God’s greatest work happens in the moments you never planned. And what first appeared to be an interruption may, in fact, be the very reason you were there.

Sometimes God’s agenda begins with two simple words: But … now?