RE Verse reading–Acts 8:26-40 (day two) “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road. . .that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out. . .” (vs 26-27) I love this story. I do not love the reality it reflects. The Spirit of God has the right to interrupt my day(s) . . .to substitute His plan, schedule, priority for my own. He expects me (like Philip) to accept this leadership with a glad and willing heart. This is not Philip’s first rodeo. Acts 8 has already presented our exemplary brother with an “opportunity to be flexible.” When persecution flooded into Jerusalem sending all but the apostles fleeing for safety, did Philip lose his job? Probably. Did he have to stop being a deacon? At least in the way he previously understoood the task. His reaction? Walk with the Spirit! See opportunities! Speak of Jesus! Being faithful and being flexible are often the same thing. For Philip. For us.
Along this theme, the Lord has been laying down foundations in my life to help me get to where I feel He is calling me to go.
I was reading in Jeremiah 7 this weekend: …”For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you. Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.”
Did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels. This is the part that spoke to me. Obviously God should have the right to interrupt our plans, but what if we are to be inclining our ear to Him continually and letting Him give orders that we gladly obey? What if we really can do nothing apart from Him. What if everything that is not from Him will be burnt and we will be saved as if through fire?
Although I am far from it, my goal is to train myself to incline my ear and let Him be Lord of all.
May it be so, Father. Amen.