Like Stephen, Philip was also called to greater things. "Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza'" (Acts 8:26). Philip did so, and found "a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians… sitting in his chariot… reading Isaiah the prophet" (vv. 27-28). "Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot'" (v. 29). Philip did as the Spirit told him and, "beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him" (v. 35). The man believed, "and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him" (vv. 37-38).
Then we are told: "Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea" (vv. 39-40). What a great story of how God uses those with a willing heart.
Like Stephen and Philip, when God speaks to your heart you need to respond by faithfully doing as asked, even in the little things. That is the sign of a willing heart. When you see some small thing that needs to be done, God is making it known to you. Be faithful to do it, even if it is nothing more than cleaning up after a church social, or cleaning the church, or mowing the church lawn.
When you are faithful in the little things, God will give you something more to do. Perhaps He will lay it on your heart to pick up a friend or neighbor and bring him to church. Be faithful. Maybe it will be the day of salvation for him. Then you may be led to meet with him weekly for Bible study. If so, be faithful, and God will use you to help ground him in his newfound faith. Do you catch the idea? That is how it often works when you have a willing heart. Amen.
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