Acts 8:26

Verse of the Day Devotion: Acts 8:26

“But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” –  Acts 8:26

Philip, after the incident in Samaria regarding Simon the magician, Philip is visited by an angel of the Lord who commanded him to go south on the road leading to Gaza.  He gave him no other information, just to go south.  Did he ask the angel why or what for?  Did he sit and think about it?  Here is Philip’s response to the angel.  “So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship.” Acts 8:27.  He immediately got up from where he was and left. 

In the book of Isaiah, we see another similar event.  He is having a vision that God is showing him.  “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.” Isaiah 6:1.  This is one of the most astonishing visions men have had as recorded in scriptures.  Because of this, he realized his sin as well as the sin of Israel and he humbly repented.  “Then I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”  Isaiah 6:5.  Because of this repentance, God forgave him, after which God calls Isaiah to a task in the form of a question, upon which Isaiah answered immediately.  “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:6:8. 

Both of these passages record the calling of God on the lives of believers.  In Acts 8, Philip is called to go south to speak with an Ethiopian eunuch about Christ, and In Isaiah 6, Isaiah is called to go to the people of Israel to declare their future due to the sins of Israel.  But there is one thing that links these two passages together.  That is neither questioned the calling, but immediately obeyed and followed.

Each one of the disciples whom Jesus called also left immediately when called.  This is an important idea to understand.  When God calls us to a particular task, we should immediately say, as Isaiah said. “Here am I, send me”.  Isaiah 6:8b.  And we should act as Philip did by not hesitating but respond at that time by obeying.  I see any calling of God as an incredible honor and privilege given to us.  And this from God who knows everything.  He knows the end from the beginning therefore He already knows what is necessary and who can fulfill it as He desires.  Therefore, if He calls us to do something, He both knows we are able to do it as He wants with the best outcome there is.  There may be times when we think we are not qualified or are unable because of the all the requirements.  I thought the same way at times.  But I have learned that He never calls us to do anything on our own.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.  We are never alone, for it says in His Word, “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8. 

We can trust God in everything.  He will never call us to anything we cannot accomplish, for He will be with us through the process.  Therefore, when He calls us to anything, do as Philip does and do not hesitate or question it, but realize you will be working with Him to accomplish something good, and say as Isaiah stated, “Here am I, send me”.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.