WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: How has your week been? Talk to God about the ups and downs.

God’s guidance
I sometimes get a bit jealous when I read passages like this. Wouldn’t it be nice if God always guided us in such clear ways: like sending an angel (v 26) or simply picking us up and placing us where he wants us (vs 39,40)? It’s tempting to think that Philip had it easy.

However, God worked with Philip the way he works with us. In verse 29 we are told that the Spirit spoke to Philip, telling him what to do. We are not told how the Spirit communicated with Philip, only that Philip obeyed.

Taking action
The Holy Spirit still speaks to us today, possibly in the same way he spoke to Philip that day. Often it is simply a thought or an impulse to do something, all too easily ignored or dismissed. It is as we obey these promptings of the Spirit that we come to recognise his voice.

The next thing that Philip does is to speak (v 35). More literal translations say here, ‘Philip opened his mouth’. It is difficult to explain the gospel without opening your mouth. In order for God to use him, Philip had to take action. God may have guided Philip in supernatural ways, but Philip was no pawn. He too had to play his part in order for God’s purpose to be achieved.

Respond: Ask the Lord to help you become increasingly sensitive to his promptings and then act on them!

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-07-14