Unsung Heroes: Compassion of Philip — Friday
Acts 8:29
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” (NLT)
Several years ago, I was introduced to the Myers–Briggs personality test. After taking it, the results were pretty definitive: My personality type was INTJ. I learned the INTJ personality was commonly referred to as “The Architect.” It all sounded pretty cool. It wasn’t long before my friends and I started googling famous people who shared the same personality type with us. My friends shared personalities with some really impressive people: Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Elvis Presley, Mark Twain. My list, however, contained names that were not quite as well regarded. In fact, most of the people on the list were overly driven people who were willing to stop at nothing to accomplish their goals (both good and bad). It didn’t take long before jokes about me turning into a villain started. Now don’t hear what I’m not saying. I don’t believe that my results from this “test” mean I am predestined to turn into Vladimir Lenin or Ted Kaczynski or Emperor Palpatine or Magneto. But it did help me see some of my unhealthy habits and tendencies.
What I learned about myself is that I can easily develop tunnel vision. I can become so focused on a task or a goal that I lose sight of everything going on around me. And if I’m honest, I believe it’s a trend and a danger we all face. Too easily, we can become so absorbed with what’s in front of us that we lose sight of what’s around us. Too often, we can become so focused on our to-do list that we aren’t listening to the Holy Spirit telling us to pause or slow down.
Thankfully, this was not the example we see in Philip. In Acts 8:26-40, we read that Philip, following the call of the Spirit, was heading toward Gaza. We don’t know if he was thinking about what he was going to do in Gaza or what to eat for dinner or where he was going to sleep. But what we do know is, in that moment, the Holy Spirit told him to change course and start walking by the carriage. Philip listened and obeyed. God orchestrated an opportunity for Philip to share his faith, and because Philip was listening, he was able to do just that.
Every single day of our lives, I believe God orchestrates similar opportunities. Maybe it’s the person in front of you at the grocery checkout. Maybe it’s a coworker that you happen to run into when leaving work. Maybe it’s a classmate you just happen to be sitting next to today. In those moments, will you be so focused on what you have to do that you miss an opportunity to show God’s love to someone? Or will you choose to be present and aware of what the Holy Spirit is urging you to do and who He is calling you to love?
Friday’s Reflection
Today, make the conscious choice to be present and aware. Look for the divine appointments God has already planned for you today. It’s going to take flexibility, but I guarantee it will be worth it!