An unexpected encounter - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
Acts 3:26; John 3:17.

An unexpected encounter
In September 2017 Rakoto had to make a long journey by motorbike through a region of Madagascar invaded by bandits. Tired from hours of concentration in difficult road conditions, he decided to rest for a while. The place seemed deserted; so he lay in the shadow of a tree and fell asleep. Soon afterwards he awoke with a shock. A man was leaning over him. In his anxiety Rakoto jumped up at once, but the man assured him that his intention was not bad.

"I seem to have recognised you," he said. "Otherwise I should have taken advantage of the chance to attack you and rob you of everything. I was in prison last year, when you came by to speak to us of Jesus and His love. You left a scripture calendar for every cell. I read a few lines that explained something new: that each one of us is unique in God's sight. I had never thought that Jesus came "to bless" us, to save us not to condemn us, and to turn us from our iniquity.

I was taken by the idea that I might find in Him the strength to live otherwise every day and not to fall back into my old ways."

That former robber was right. God says in the Bible that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they should turn from their way and live (cf. Ezekiel 33:11).The first step is to believe Him, put your confidence in Him and then learn how Jesus can and will transform your life.

Today's reading: Judges 15:9-20 · 2 Corinthians 13:1-14