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9 August 2007
Part of a special week of studies focusing on serving God and following his call.
Acts 8:27,29
On the road Philip saw a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch . . . The Spirit said to Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
Having left behind the best revival campaign since the day of Pentecost, Philip must have wondered what to expect. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, by the side of a seldom used road, he must have questioned whether or not he really had heard God's call. We are not told, but I'd like to think that Philip had to wait some time before his faithful obedience was rewarded.
Sometimes we respond to God's call and expect all kinds of things to happen - and for a while perhaps nothing does. It is easy to become discouraged, disheartened, and maybe feel embarrassed at the foolish choice we have made. But God promises that whenever we step out in faith, he will always keep his side of the deal - and so it is with Philip.
Philip almost certainly didn't know the importance of this Ethiopian eunuch he lead to faith and baptised - but this was probably the conversion of the very first African! Philip helped introduce Christianity to a whole new continent!
Past failures or disappointments can hold us back, as can current pleasures and successes. But the task God has in mind is often way beyond what we would dream of let alone attempt on our own, and the impact we can have on this world is mind-blowing - if we trust and obey.
God, it is hard to trust you, and simply doing what you tell me isn't simple at all. If there is something I know I should have done but didn't, give me the courage and determination to do it today. Amen.
Written by Phil Clark, Programme Leader for Xplore - Church Army's new Global Gap Year programme.
Part of a special week of studies focusing on serving God and following his call.
Acts 8:27,29
On the road Philip saw a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch . . . The Spirit said to Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
Having left behind the best revival campaign since the day of Pentecost, Philip must have wondered what to expect. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, by the side of a seldom used road, he must have questioned whether or not he really had heard God's call. We are not told, but I'd like to think that Philip had to wait some time before his faithful obedience was rewarded.
Sometimes we respond to God's call and expect all kinds of things to happen - and for a while perhaps nothing does. It is easy to become discouraged, disheartened, and maybe feel embarrassed at the foolish choice we have made. But God promises that whenever we step out in faith, he will always keep his side of the deal - and so it is with Philip.
Philip almost certainly didn't know the importance of this Ethiopian eunuch he lead to faith and baptised - but this was probably the conversion of the very first African! Philip helped introduce Christianity to a whole new continent!
Past failures or disappointments can hold us back, as can current pleasures and successes. But the task God has in mind is often way beyond what we would dream of let alone attempt on our own, and the impact we can have on this world is mind-blowing - if we trust and obey.
God, it is hard to trust you, and simply doing what you tell me isn't simple at all. If there is something I know I should have done but didn't, give me the courage and determination to do it today. Amen.
Written by Phil Clark, Programme Leader for Xplore - Church Army's new Global Gap Year programme.
