Seize the Moment

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Monday, August 03, 2009

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." This is desert. So he arose and went. - Acts 8:26–27

Have you ever been in a store or restaurant where a baby is screaming so loudly that people are practically running away with their hands over their ears?

Meanwhile, the baby's mother is sitting there as though nothing is happening. She has managed to tune this out, which is an uncanny ability that mothers possess.

We can do the same thing with God. He may be speaking to us, but we have essentially tuned Him out. Like Samuel, we might say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening," but we are not listening. And when He does speak, we aren't responding.

Philip was not this way, however. When we read in Acts 8 that an angel of the Lord told him to go to the desert, Philip went.

How easily Philip could have argued. How easily he could have said, "What do you mean, 'Go to the desert'? For what? To do what? I am having a fruitful ministry here in Samaria. Get somebody else to go to the desert. I have work to do."

But the Spirit led Philip, and he responded to what God wanted him to do. That is so very important. Philip responded, and he seized the moment.

Why? Because he was the right person for the right job. God had uniquely equipped him to minister to the man from Ethiopia that he would meet there in the desert. And God has uniquely equipped you.

Will you be available? Will you be open? If you will, then I believe God will call upon you and give you the privilege of reaching others with the gospel.