12/07/2022
God calls us together with unlikely people in unlikely places to bring His will to fruition through us. Philip was called from his bed to journey into a desert for mysterious purposes, but he went, and there he met someone that he had not previously known, a man who was seeking the Lord, and of all things this man was a eunuch; someone that the law prohibited from even entering the temple. Philip spoke with him, led him to believe, baptized him, and sent him on his way. History tells us that this man went on to establish the church in Ethiopia… one of the great churches in the world. Do we encounter people in our lives who God uses to do wonders for his kingdom, or who we become a spark to, as they go on to light the world afire with the gospel of Christ?
“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.”
Acts 8:26 ESV
Sometimes we are brought together with someone by circumstances that we think are purely by chance, but as God works out His will, we find that our meeting was inevitable, and an absolute certainty in His eyes. From such unlikely encounters, in unlikely places, and for unknown reasons, there arises a series of amazing events that come together in service to God in amazing ways.
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hebrews 13:1-2 ESV
We acknowledge how we might meet an angel and not know them, or understand why we have met, but just as often the Lord uses two or more unsuspecting people in much the same way, and places them on a course to do things that none could see coming beforehand.
“Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
3 John 1:8 ESV
I was at a holiday party of a wealthy relative, and as I wandered around chatting with people I heard two men entertaining the guests by playing their guitars and singing. They were exceptionally good, but then again this is Nashville and there are many who take gigs like this trying to make a living as they struggle to break into the music business. Little did I know that one of these men would be my Philip.
Later that evening I was standing by a table watching a server slice beef tenderloin for biscuits when I noticed the two musicians were leaving and about to walk past me. I stepped forward and as I told the first one my name, and offered to shake his hand, I gave him words of encouragement by saying how much I enjoyed his music. When I did this he recognized my name because he and his wife were reading my devotionals each morning. It was then that I realized that God had brought us together, but I had no idea why. Over the next several months we became good friends and dined together often with our wives. Little did I know that before the year was out we would find ourselves sitting in my living room writing songs like “Via Dolorosa”, and ”It’s a God Thing”. You see, this man was not a struggling musician when I met him… he was a very accomplished country music singer songwriter, and his name was Phil O’Donnell… or as his peers called him Philbilly O’Donnell, and whose mother probably referred to as… Phillip.
“And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”
Acts 8:29-31 ESV
We are close friends to this day and have written other songs of faith together… all beginning in a not so by chance encounter, and although I don’t know who the true Philip is, whether it is Phil or me, I do know that God is still working something wonderful stemming from that night… I know that the story of our meeting not only continues, but is just beginning.
In the Bible story of Philip and the Eunuch, the Spirit carried Phillip away to Azotus [diffusion] after he baptized the eunuch, and he continued to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Are we ready to obey when God calls us out of our beds or malaise to mysterious places, and introduces us to people we haven’t met before? Are we prepared to meet angels, or form friendships that will advance the kingdom of God in amazing and unforeseen ways? Are we ready to spread the gospel?
“And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.”
Acts 8:39-40 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling us from our slumber to serve you in mighty ways. Thank you Lord for the mysteries we find ourselves to be a part of, and the blessings we receive from them. Thank you for the deserts, the eunuchs, and the Philips we encounter as you use us to accomplish your will, and quite possibly win entire countries, and the world for you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sent your Son Jesus to save us, and us to save those who remain the world’s lost. Praised be your name for every desert we find ourselves in, and for every eunuch we speak to of you. Mighty are you who takes one man, and converts an entire nation through him. Your grace is indeed sufficient Father! Wash us clean of sin, and transform us in Christ so that we will be pleasing in your sight, and useful n your hand. Use us to do your will, and one day judge us worthy to sit with you, perfected, and joyfully singing your praises for eternity.
Rich Forbes