THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014
An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”—Acts 8:26
Philip was used to leading others to Jesus because he was obedient. How easily Philip could have argued with the angel who gave him these instructions from the Lord: “Arise and go toward the south.” But why? Philip had been preaching in the city of Samaria, and revival was breaking out. And now God was sending him alone into the desert?
It helps to know a little about the geography, the lay of the land. The angel was telling him to travel about eighty miles from where he was. If you were to make the trip today, you would hop in your car and be there in a little over an hour. But Philip had to walk. And let me clue you in: eighty miles is quite a hike. It would have taken days for him to reach his destination—with no 7-Elevens or McDonald’s along the way.
Note that the Lord didn’t say, “There are people waiting to hear the gospel.” He simply said, “Go to the desert.”
How easily Philip could have said, “Excuse me, but the apostles and the other believers in Jerusalem are at least thirty miles closer. Couldn’t You call one of them? I’m busy here. I’m not the only Christian around. Couldn’t You call on someone else?” Yet we don’t read of Philip saying anything like that.
Sometimes God will tell us to do things that may not make sense at the moment. But who are we to question the wisdom of God? That is why Philip was a man whom God could call on. Philip recognized that God knew exactly what He was doing.
Do you recognize that too?
Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013
Radio Program: “The Greatest Story Ever Told: The Birth of Christ, Part 2 — I”
TV Program: “What Jesus Taught About Prayer, Part 2”
Bible Reading: Matthew 8-10
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Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514.
