Scripture
‘In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ‘ Acts 9:10-11,17-18 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.9.10-11,17-18
‘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. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ‘ Acts 8:29-30,36,38 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.8.29-30,36,38
Observation
In these parallel passages, Philip and Ananias both received a divine directive, with inconvenient timing. I don’t know what they were each doing prior to their entrance into these stories, but God’s instructions to them interrupted whatever else had been happening. It seems that Philip went more willingly than did Ananias, but in the end they both heeded the call. Their willingness to set aside their own agenda to heed the divine call, allowed God to intersect the life of the Ethiopian Eunuch and Saul of Tarsus. The example set by Philip and Ananias was then mirrored by the Eunuch and Saul, when they ‘immediately’ heeded the call to be baptized.
Application
Like Philip and Ananias, I need to be willing to allow my own agenda to be interrupted by God when His timing demands. I may not understand the timing of God’s plans and purpose, but I can be confident that His timing is not without reason. This does not mean that I need to live my life without self-discipline, as that is part of the fruit of the Spirit–however when I allow my plans to be superseded by His, then my life becomes a part of His larger story.
This week, I need to be mindful when distractions arise to know the difference between the foolish distractions that will subvert my life, versus the divine distractions that will ultimately accomplish God’s plans through me.
Prayer
God, may my life be a living sacrifice in Your hands. Help me to live my life with intention, but fully submitted to Your plans. Help me to know the difference between the daily distractions that derail, and the divine distractions that direct my steps.