I remember when my daughter Kaylee was 6 and our family was going zip-lining.  She wasn’t so sure about it.  In fact, it took some convincing to get her to do it and even then she would only go if she could do it tethered to Melissa.  Once she did it, though, it was a different story.  Not only was it safe, but it was a ton of fun.  She loved it!  As we moved from one launch point to the next, she couldn’t wait.

I was reminded of this as I read Acts 8:26-40. You can click the reference there and read it if you’d like.  I’ll wait…

Phillip Listened
In the text, Phillip was walking along a road when he saw someone he didn’t know and Ethiopian court official.  He felt the Holy Spirit prompt him to go talk to the guy.  He did and it changed the life of the Ethiopian forever. 

What caught my attention was that Phillip had no idea what to expect.  However, once he went to talk to the man, he found the man was already reading the Scriptures, the book of Isaiah.  Not only that, but it was the perfect passage, a prophecy about Jesus.  It’s like God knew what He was doing ;).

Phillip didn’t have to concoct a slick way to talk about Jesus, he was handed a hanging curve-ball and he swung away.  God set it all up for him.  From that passage, he was able to tell the Ethiopian all about Jesus.  The Ethiopian believed and was baptized that very day.  Awesome!

We can listen, too.

There are a lot of things in life where we just don’t know what will happen, whether it’s trying something new or talking to someone about Jesus.  It can be scary.  But we have to decide whether we are willing to take the chance.  I’m not saying that every time it’s going to go well.  But you never know until you try.  You may just find that you enjoy that new thing or that God has already prepared the person for you talk to.  It might just change that person’s life.

You never know until you try.

Dear Jesus,

Give me the courage to try new things, especially new things that You lead me to. Help me to trust that You are working in those moments.

Amen.