JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROAD
- Key Verse
- The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. (Acts 8:29-30 NIV)
READ TODAY'S PASSAGE-
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Central Truth
In this passage God's message of salvation is on the move "in Samaria" and "to the ends of the earth" through the work of Philip. Acts 8 records Philip's role in the fulfillment of Christ's final words recorded in Acts 1:8.
Reflections
A year and half ago our pastor, Gary Brandenburg, did a sermon series based on Bill Hybels' book, Just Walk Across the Room. In his book, Hybels asserts: "What if you know that by simply crossing the room and saying hello to someone, you could change that person's forever? Just a few steps to make an eternal difference. It has nothing to do with methods and everything to do with taking a genuine interest in another human being. All you need is a heart that’s in tune with the Holy Spirit and a willingness to venture out of your "Circle of Comfort" and into another person’s life. This simple and profound act of faith and love is precisely what Philip did in today’s passage.
Attuned to and moved by the Spirit of God, Philip’s compassion for lost people compelled him to share his faith in Christ with an Ethiopian eunuch. As John Adcox wrote in yesterday’s devotional, Philip was previously sharing the good news of Christ by doing great signs and miracles among the people of Samaria. In today’s passage, prompted by an angel of the Lord, we find Philip traveling on the road going south from Jerusalem to Gaza. It’s in this passage that we clearly see God fulfilling initial spreading of the good news “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
I’ll be the first to confess that Philip’s behavior is not the easiest for me to follow. My biggest challenge is often being too consumed with my own agenda and plans. Not surprisingly, I’m most successful at sharing the good news of Christ with people when I stop and enter into their lives. When I do, I allow myself to hear and participate in the circumstances of the lives. It’s only then that I am able to see and share how their life intersects the truth of Scripture.
It is my daily prayer to be attuned to the Spirit of God.
Discussion Questions
1. What keeps you from being attuned to the Holy Spirit?2. What keeps you from escaping your Comfort Zone?
3. Toward whom is God calling you to just walk across the room?
Harold
January 27, 2010 04:59 AM
One answer to your first question, "What keeps you from being attuned to the Holy Spirit?" is that I can fail to recognize that it is the Holy Spirit. Another answer is that I can reject the advice of the Spirit even if I recognize it is the Spirit.
Bobby Stephens
January 27, 2010 08:26 AM
Thanks, John, nice commentary. I like your daily prayer, and I am going to pray that myself.
Mitzi
January 27, 2010 08:59 AM
Your greatest gift is your ability to see how the truth of God's Word intersects someone's story. Thanks for your willingness to use that gift in our family and in our church.
Mike Lyon
January 27, 2010 10:47 AM
Good insight John. I especially like the Hybels excerpt, and will keep that urgency in mind when engaging with friends. ML
BRET
January 27, 2010 12:17 PM
Inspiring words John - thanks. As a fellow "1959-er", I can tell you that you also left out the Bic ball point pen, Jiffy Pop, and Bozo the Clown from your list of events and debuts. Also, The Day the Music Died. And for you youngsters out there, average wage in 1959 was about $80 per week, or about what some folks spend on Starbucks.
Jo Ann Smith
January 28, 2010 11:27 AM
That was SO good. I remember the series very well.I didn't know you were born in Germany. I spent two weeks with a cousin in Bad Kreuznach and visited Weisbaden many times. I loved Germany and the Rhine River, Black Forest, etc. Small world isn't it?