Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The God Who Surprises


“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 Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, 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.’ (Acts 8:26-29 NIV)

I confess that I am a person who likes routine.  That is my natural bent, but I have grown to appreciate the surprises that come in life.  I realize how constricting my desire for the routine and the expected can be, particularly when it comes to my walk with the Lord.  I, like Philip, have found Him to be a God who is full of surprises.  

Philip was a disciple of Jesus and living in Jerusalem.  Jesus had ascended into Heaven and the Holy Spirit had come on him and his fellow disciples.  Those were heady days as they performed many miracles and people responded to the message of the Gospel.  Then, suddenly, Saul of Tarsus, a prominent Pharisee, struck hard against the believers, forcing them to flee Jerusalem.  Philip fled to Samaria, where God used him to perform many miracles.  I am sure Philip was surprised by the turn of events, but quickly realized what God was up to.  Yet, I wonder if he wasn’t taken aback by the Lord’s call to leave Samaria soon after he arrived.  Another surprise was in store.

Philip meets “an important official” from Ethiopia and it turns out he is a seeker.  He desires to know God.  Philip is told not to miss this opportunity to explain the Good News.  Hours later, the Ethiopian is baptized into Jesus!  And then, surprise, Philip is whisked away by the Spirit to another town to preach to others.  I am sure, by then Philip’s head was spinning.  

God’s surprises weren’t limited to Philip.  Think of Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).  Think of the woman caught in adultery (John 8). Think of the women arriving at Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28).  None expected what they encountered.  God surprised them. And blessed them.  

Today, know that the Lord is a God who surprises and often calls us out of our routine into something new.  When that surprise comes, embrace it. For with it comes a great blessing.

© Jim Musser 2013

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