I Will

Author: Zack Harris

Acts 8:26-27 (ESV)—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.

Just a couple years after I’d found Jesus, I found myself in a state of uncertainty. I’d just joined a church but had a growing inclination I was in the wrong place. I mean that physically and spiritually. I prayed about it for a good while, and we were talking about those early days of prayer when I had no idea what I was doing. Poor prayer did not negate what God had for me.

While at work one day, I remember getting a text from Pastor Darren DeLoach. He’d just become the media pastor at Connection Point Church, was forming a media team, and wanted my help. Instantly, I turned to one of my coworkers and said, “Welp, looks like I’m going to CPC.” Nine years later, I’m on church staff, writing a devotional on faith.

That moment was, thankfully, the first of many moments I received a message from God and acted on it, even without any idea of the details, difficulties, or magnitude. Simply put, that’s faith (even if I didn’t realize it until years later). I knew He had something good for me, and I wasn’t going to let the unknown be a hindrance.

In Acts 8:26-40, Philip is told to “get up and go south.” He’s not given any other instructions, context, or any indication of what situation he’s getting into. So, what does Philip do? Exactly what he’s told! He rises, goes south, and runs into an important man, a court official to the queen of the Ethiopians. Philip tells him about Jesus, and the man is saved.

A man came to know the love of Jesus because of faith. Philip trusted God and did what he was told to do.

Faith, or trust, is one of the most common themes of the Bible. An angel tells Mary the overwhelmingly shocking news that she will conceive the Messiah. She responds with trust (Luke 1:38). Job loses everything: his wife, children, and all his possessions, yet his trust remains (Job 13:15). Peter even walks on the waves of the sea because of Jesus’ command (Matthew 14:22-31). Note that in every case, before and after, there was hesitation, doubt, and even some arguing, but in the end, they acted on faith and trusted God.

Most of us won’t be told to do the most astonishing things. We will be asked to do the small stuff, like talking to specific people, serving in unexpected, possibly unfamiliar ways, and, worst of all, waiting. Patience is truly a virtue, but it isn’t easy and requires a lot of faith. Ol’ Abraham waited a very long time for what was promised to him but did receive a son in God’s timing (Genesis 21:1-7).

We over-complicate faith. We make it this lofty, unobtainable concept when, in reality, it is one of the simplest things we can do. Even if it’s hard, just do what you’re told! That’s it! Listen to God and trust Him!

Now, how God speaks to us and gives us these commands to do or to wait is different from person to person and situation to situation. However, it still culminates with what’s best for us and/or those around us. That’s one of the keys to faith: realizing that whatever the call, it’s for the good (Romans 8:28). Something positive will come from your obedience, whether or not you yourself reap those benefits.

We’re told the impact of faith (and lack thereof) in Matthew 17:14-20. With just a little faith, you can move those mountains in your life and the lives of others. Listen to God’s words, and trust Him.

Reflection

When was a time that you acted on faith? If it hasn’t happened yet, how can you prepare yourself to act when the Spirit calls?