Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopianeunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.
“Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
Do we see what just happened there?
Do we notice what Philip did?
Oh yes, most definitely Philip listened to the angel, Philip obeyed the leading of the Spirit,
but once he got to the chariot to “stay near”… do we see what happened next?
“Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
Philip… asked… a question.
Let’s not miss the power of this moment, Church.
Philip asked a question… and a door was opened.
A door was opened and a life was changed.
In this world where so many are so very certain of the answers,
where news shows are filled with talking heads telling us what to believe
and Facebook posts shame us for not accepting opinions cloaked as the only truth,
let us not miss the power of what Philip did.
Philip asked a question, and a door was opened.
Opened for dialogue. Opened for understanding.
Opened for growth beyond what was presently known.
Opened for the breath of God’s Spirit to blow. Opened for lives to witness God’s move.
In the April 11th Disciplines devotion, UM pastor Rev. Brian Bodt shares an unforgettable lesson learned from a professor:
“Answers divide. Questions unite.“
I wrote that down in my journal. Answers divide. Questions unite.
It was a wonderful reminder that people, including ourselves,
long more to be understood than fixed.
As Christians, we understandably want to share the answers of God’s love and grace.
Perhaps Philip is showing us the best way to do that is by asking
those we don’t know,
those we disagree with,
those we care about,
and those we love…a question.
Questions open doors…open hearts…open minds…for those doing the asking as well as for those being asked. Questions fueled by the love and grace of God invite the breath of God’s Spirit to blow.
And after all, isn’t the unleashing of God’s Spirit the very best answer?
May we follow Philip’s lead, Church.
May we follow Philip’s lead.
For there is no doubt that we know or will encounter someone who is waiting, praying, and hoping for the open door of care… waiting for someone to ask in some form or fashion
“How is it with you?” “How is it with your soul?”
May we draw near Church, even in the uncomfortable places, even to those unknown and so very different from us. May we draw near with God’s love and grace to ask… and let the Spirit blow.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks,
the door will be opened.“
Matthew 7:7-8
Drawing near with you and thankful for you,
Dena
If you would like to view past editions of Grace for the Journey, follow this link: https://fairwaydistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/