Ready

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:30-31 (NASB)

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. Acts 8:35 (NASB) I absolutely love this story (Acts 8:26-40). I've been reading it for several days, and will probably be in it again tomorrow. There are so many things that draw me to this story.

• Philip's sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
• The fact that God sent an angel to give Philip specific direction.
• Philip's unquestioning and immediate obedience, such that timing was perfect.
• The eunuch being right where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there.
• The fact that Philip was ready.

It's those last two that really got me this morning. First of all, Philip was not responsible to make sure that the person he was to meet was there. In fact, Philip wasn't even told what he was supposed to do or who he was supposed to meet. He was just told to be on the road. He was never told to reach a specific destination - just to be on that road. It was God's job to arrange the meeting. It was God's job to take care of the eunuch. Philip was just called to be obedient. So often I don't just obey. I have to try to ensure that everyone else is obeying, too. Otherwise, how in the world can God work in their situations? How am I to be useful if the person I am to talk to doesn't get to the right place at the right time? Guess what? It's not my job!!! It's God's. I want to live like that. Secondly, Philip had no idea who he was going to encounter or what type of teaching that person might need. He had no clue who he would meet. He just went, and he was ready. He was ready with an understanding of Messianic prophecies in Scripture. It is easy to step back and say, "Oh, when I have need, the Holy Spirit will guide me." On the other hand, it's easy to study, study, study and rely on the results of that studying alone - my own human understanding of Scripture. There must be a balance. I must have a balance. I need to be very familiar with the Word and I need to be very sensitive to the Lord's leadership as I study and learn. God has granted both His Word and His Spirit, and I need to be growing in both. Essentially, today, I was challenged to just be ready. Be ready by growing in the Word. Be ready by being willing to be where God has placed me. Be ready without manipulating the readiness of others. Just be ready to be used.

Joy

"To be the joy-bearer and a joy-giver says everything, for in our life, if one is joyful, it means that one is faithfully living for God, and that nothing else counts; and if one gives joy to others one is doing God's work; with joy without and joy withing, all is well...I can conceive no higher way." Janet Erskine Stuart I read this quote this morning in Come Let Us Adore Him by Robert J. Morgan as I was reading the story behind the writing of the beloved Christmas hymn "Joy to the World." To say I was captivated by these words would be an enormous understatement. Can you imagine this being said of you? Can you imagine a better compliment than this? Oh, to be truly called a joyful person! To truly see myself in that very light! What an awesome, amazing, wonderful, incredible challenge to take on - to live faithfully for God and to give joy on to others simply by nature of who I am. I know that I do that at times, in moments. But, to truly live this way! To give joy on a daily basis to those who surround me, starting here at home with my family and moving on from there. Yes, that is where I desire to be. Oh, the joy!

Immediately

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. Mark 1:16-20 (NASB) Mark is the immediate Gospel. Everything in Mark happened suddenly or immediately. I have always found the urgency very, well, urgent. I do have to wonder - would I have followed immediately? I like to weigh my options, to think through things, and to process. I like to list pros and cons and make decisions based on careful deliberation. I over-think things. Even little things like what to wear or eat. Are there good reasons to wear or not wear that? What are the implications of planning that particular meal for that particular day? I know, it sounds a bit ridiculous. I have gotten better over the years, and now I'm trying to (figuratively speaking) beat the extremism of this type of behavior out of my eight-year-old. But, the truth is, my nature tends toward stopping and processing. It's not always bad. Although I still make impulse purchases, I am inclined to stop and process at least a little bit. Although I like some spur of the moment excursions, I am enough of a planner to make sure those spontaneous events don't supersede something scheduled. But, there are times when I need to be more immediate. The Lord puts me in circumstances at times that require action, immediate action. So, my challenge is to grow in the willingness and ability to follow my Savior immediately. To change plans spontaneously simply because He puts an opportunity in front of me. To let the plans that He has laid from before the foundation of the world take total, complete, and immediate precedence over anything - no matter how long my plans have been determined or how abruptly He informs me of His long-established plan. His comes first. Immediately.