Open to God’s Leading

Imagine if God were to come to you one day and say, “Go out to Palm Springs, in the middle of the desert at noon, and I will tell you what to do next.”

In the book of Acts, that is basically what it was like for Philip when an angel of the Lord spoke to him and said, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (Acts 8:26).

How easily Philip could have argued and said, “And do what? Preach to lizards? It is too hot, even for them. You want me to leave this place of revival where the Holy Spirit is being poured out and where miracles are being performed, and you want me to go to the middle of some desert? To do what?”

But Philip didn’t argue. The Bible tells us, “So he arose and went” (verse 27). It would have been understandable if Philip had questioned this or was like Jonah who, when told to go to Nineveh and preach the gospel, took a boat in the opposite direction. But to Philip’s credit, he went to the desert.

The angel didn’t tell Philip what would happen when he got there. He didn’t have a detailed blueprint. He was being led one step at a time. God’s way becomes plain when we start walking in it. Obedience to revealed truth guarantees guidance in matters unrevealed.

If we want to lead others to Christ, then we need to be open to and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Has the Lord shown you to do something? Then do it. Because there is a time to wait, and there is a time to move. There is a time to sow, and there is a time to reap.