Getting Around Spiritually

Acts 8:26-40

The book we call the Acts of the Apostles is well-named because it shares with us a story of action, of movement, of things being done. But many have suggested the story could be called the Acts of God since God is the primary force at work throughout. Our reading today is a good example. “Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza…. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:26, 39). Philip is busy, traveling from Jerusalem to the desert and, after a brief encounter with an Ethiopian dignitary, on to Azotus. But Philip’s actions are guided by God, either through an angel––a messenger––or by the Holy Spirit. In fact, Philip seems to be completely at God’s disposal, unaware of why he is going where he goes, but willing and enthusiastic about going anyway.

If you are like me you find it difficult to follow Philip’s example. Sometimes I act more like Jonah because I am not so willing to follow God’s guidance. I hem and haw, I hesitate, I drag my feet, and occasionally I simply try to ignore the whole thing. But Acts makes it clear that allowing God to lead us and, if need be, to pick us up and carry us, gives us opportunities to minister and witness to others, to play a role in what God is accomplishing in the world.

So how will we live today, with bold enthusiasm for the message of God or timidly and reluctantly choosing to remain silent? If we will allow God to work through us there’s no telling what we may accomplish.

Prayer: Lord, use us to do your will even when we are hesitant to get involved. For it is in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.

What Are We Looking For?

John 1:43-51

There is a difference between what you happen to find by accident and what you find because you are looking for it. Finding money on the ground is a good example of the first case –– we normally don’t expect to see a coin lying on the sidewalk. Finding your misplaced car keys is a good example of the second case –– car keys are something we go looking for because we need them. It just so happens that the Greek word translated as “found” appears three times in a brief section of our gospel reading from John. “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ …Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote…’” (John 1:43-45). According to some very reputable scholars the sense being conveyed in this passage with the word found is of the accidental sort.

Far be it from me to disagree, but I have to wonder. Jesus was looking for disciples and he found Philip. Philip was looking for someone to share his news with and he found Nathanael. The people of Israel had long been looking for the promised one, the Messiah, and Philip believed this person had been found. There is an intentionality here, a purpose to all the seeking and encountering that leads to a circle of faith that continues growing ever wider, right up to this very day. What we really have to come to terms with is what it is that we are looking for in life. Are we seeking a fellowship of faith? Are we searching for the one who is worthy of our praise? Or are we interested in something else, something far less significant?

Sometimes we will be happily surprised to find things we were not looking for. But Jesus was sent to find and tend to the needs of God’s people, some of whom had been waiting with expectation and hope for God’s Messiah to appear. I don’t think that was an accident. I think it was the sort of grace that remains active in our lives today.

Prayer: Lord, you look for us until you find us; give us faith by which to see you and the patience with which to await your coming reign. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Skepticism Abounds

John 1:43-51

In our increasingly electronic age we find ourselves bombarded with information of all sorts, much of which is dubious in nature. A healthy dose of skepticism is a necessity when opening an email, for example, or watching a political ad.

But what if we need to convey information to someone else? How do we overcome their doubts? The gospel of John offers insight on addressing skepticism. “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’” (John 1:45-46). Ultimately all Philip did to answer Nathanael’s question was to invite him to check it out. “Come and see,” he said.

The good news of Jesus Christ, as enlivened by the Holy Spirit, is capable of changing lives. In our efforts to share that good news we do not really need to be experts on complicated theological subjects. Imagine approaching your neighbor with the words, “Bob, I need a minute of your time to tell you about the Second Helvetic Confession and what a difference it can make in your life.” I don’t know about you, but most of the neighbors I’ve had are far more interested in personal stories of faith than ancient rubrics or constructs authored by long-dead academics. (There’s a place for such stuff, but it isn’t back yard barbeques.) Philip hit the nail on the head. When Nathanael scoffed at what he said, Philip simply challenged Nathanael to “come and see.” Sometimes that’s all it takes. Sometimes we need to let God deal with the skepticism and simply invite others to participate.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to share our faith in simple terms and to allow your Spirit to work through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

That Didn’t Last Long

2 Chronicles 24:17-22

Acts 6:1-7, 7:59-8:8

Here it is, the day after Christmas, and our daily readings are full of conflict and death. The prophet Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:21) and Stephen, one of the first deacons (Acts 7:59-60) are each stoned to death, a persecution breaks out against the church in Jerusalem (8:1) and the church itself is torn by conflict over the treatment of widows (6:1-2). Frankly a few readings about peace and prosperity would have been nice today. The baby Jesus still lies in the manger. The Wise Men haven’t even gotten to Bethlehem. Could we not have had some time to enjoy the ambient glow from the stable? But that is not what we’ve been given today.

Maybe that’s just the way it should be. Had the world been filled with peace and light and warmth all along there would have been no need for prophets or a Savior. But the world needed God’s grace and over and over again that is what we got. Jesus was born into difficult circumstances demonstrating that God had not given up on us. Centuries later there are still issues that confront us and challenge us as people of faith, and yet God remains active in our midst.

It is also worth noting that in each of our readings today there is at least a glimmer of hope. Zechariah began to prophesy because “the spirit of God took possession” of him (2 Chronicles 24:20), and though he was killed for his efforts, Zechariah died showing faith in God (v. 22). Even though the church was conflicted early on, “the word of God continued to spread; the number of disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7). And the persecution that followed Stephen’s death helped to spread to word of God as Philip, another of the disciples, began to proclaim the word in the city of Samaria to the joy of it’s residents (8:5-8).

We’d like a rosier picture today. We’d like to dwell at the manger for a bit and watch the baby sleep. But the world needs the word of God too much for us to stand idle, and we know too much about the grace of God to remain silent for long.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the birth of our Savior. Now give us the courage to spread the good news throughout the world that all may come to share the joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Who Will Lead Us Through the Wilderness?

Acts 8:26-40

If you ever doubted the importance of teaching and education to the life of the church then our reading from Acts for today should convince you. It is the story of the conversion of the Ethiopian by Philip. As the African rides along in his chariot he reads aloud from the Hebrew scriptures. “So Philip ran up to it (the chariot) and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him” (Acts 8:30-31).

“How can I (understand), unless someone guides me?” Often the words of scripture can appear like a trackless region with no clear direction. The fact that Philip met the Ethiopian on a wilderness road may be symbolic of this fact. Left to his own effort the Ethiopian might never have found the truth contained in the Bible, or upon encountering it not understand it. But when given proper guidance by Philip he grasped the meaning of God’s word. Eventually he way his through the complexities to the good news of Jesus Christ. The same is true in our day as well. This is not to say that Bible study is easy. It is difficult work. Nor is there ever an end to the process. Even those who teach need continual refreshing, need to remain connected to the source, as it were.

If you are a teacher or study leader in your community of faith, thank you. The work you do is essential in preparing others to step up and accept the challenge in years to come. In this way the word of God goes from generation to generation and never lies fallow. In this way men and women, young and old, are made more aware of who they are and whose they are.

Prayer: Lord, uphold those who teach and who guide the study of your word. May they know the joy of leading others to better understanding and to lives enriched . In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Learning Who We Really Are

Acts 8:1b-13

Sometimes even the most faithful of believers can struggle with how he or she fits into the life of the community. Rare are the individuals who can come to see themselves in a new light and willingly, graciously accept that new understanding. Perhaps Simon the magician can give us the needed perspective.

When a great persecution erupted against the church in Jerusalem Philip, one of the newly ordained deacons from Acts 6, made his way to Samaria. There Philip shared the good news and did many signs for the people. As Acts tells us, “…When they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon (the magician) himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place” (Acts 8:12-13). Keep in mind that up until this time Simon had been considered a great man in Samaria, someone with tremendous gifts. But when the truth of the gospel was revealed to him he set aside his status and became one of the believers, amazed by what Philip was doing, and listening to Philip’s teachings.

I respect Simon for what he did because I know how challenging it can be. Simon let go of his old life and accepted a new reality for himself. Once we’ve lived with certain expectations it is very difficult to see ourselves differently, especially if we sense we have lost status or esteem. In fact, it is even difficult for the community as a whole to reconsider its place in the world, to let go of old ideas about prestige and accept a new role that God holds out. Simon, then, is a compelling figure for us to consider, a man who let go of who he was and embraced the gospel as good news. It would serve us well to follow in Simon’s footsteps, as individuals and as a community, always striving to accept the new thing that God is doing, even if it means letting go of who we once were.

Prayer: Gracious God, give us the strength to trust you and to live out the calling you have given us, that your gospel might bear good fruit in the world. Amen.