GOD’S OPEN DOOR
Richard Harris
Today’s Scripture: “Now an Angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is a desert place. And he rose and went.” Acts 8:26-27a, ESV
Theme: Be willing to get up and go to uncomfortable places, particularly when we have been sent by God.
OUR NEXT STEP
What is our role as Christians? God looks at us from many vantage points but wants just one thing from His believers – obey and take the next step.
Philip did just that. An angel of the Lord told Philip the Evangelist to rise and journey south. Philip was not told why, nor what he was about to do, but he obeyed God and took those steps. Would you have done that? Doors open and close to us all the time. While open, do we hesitate to step through … with excuses? Philip did not say he didn’t have time. He didn’t balk at being told to go out into the desert, an uncomfortable place. Philip didn’t push for more information. He didn’t turn God down, providing excuses of his abilities. He rose and he went. He knew that he would be guided by the Holy Spirit. Philip carried the faith of a true Evangelist. Jesus was our first Evangelist when He took up His preaching at age 30. His Holy Spirit has been shared with all believers since. As with Philip, use the Holy Spirit as your guide.
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
Have you ever had a Philip moment in your life or been the recipient of someone else’s Philip moment? No doubt you have. Did you see it, feel it, recognize it for what it was? Are you guided by the signs? God opens doors of opportunity for us. Cross that threshold and make a difference. Are you noticing a familiar scene at every turn in your life? That is the open door of a calling. Is there room for growth? Step through the door. Have you been saved from a situation when some tough questions got you thinking? Uncomfortable truths are just that - uncomfortable, and truthful. Rise, and go through that door. Both Philip and the Ethiopian traveler crossed that threshold. What hinders you from being baptized into a faith of open doors?
We have the retelling of Jesus’ works in New Testament to help guide our decisions. Philip did not have that resource. The eyewitness accounts were just being written during his time. He was following the passed-on words of Jesus, as heard through others. He was living it, but are we not as well? The Old Testament did have influence on many new Christians of that time. I urge you to read Isaiah 53 and see what stirred the desire of the Ethiopian traveler who was saved through Philip’s journey.
Make It Personal: I desperately seek those open doors. I’m sure I may have missed a few over the years because of mortal hesitation. In hindsight, overall, I realized that my life was indeed guided by open doors. Unexpected conversations. Restlessness over decisions. Some tough questions. A helping hand. A prayer. I’ve made some enlightening decisions by allowing myself to step through those doors: marriage, military, family, friendships, spirituality, creativity, availability; all because I obeyed and took the next step. The next one awaits all of us.
Pray: Almighty Father, we thank You for opening another door for us, so that we may share the testimony of Philip and the traveler. May we experience the wonder of guiding others through professions of faith. When asked to do things that seem out of our way, help guide us, Lord, to think of these wonderful testimonies, as we pray in the Name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read: Acts 8:26-40, Isaiah 53, Matthew 5:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26, ESV