-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 the Kandake (which means ‘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.”
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
–Acts 8: 26-31
-In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
–Acts 9: 10-16
Sometimes the Spirit guides me, nudges me, and my first reaction is…
“Wait…what?”
Yet, whether I’m trusting like Philip, or doubting like Ananias, in my next step I’ll shrug and say, “Okay. I’m on it.”
A few months ago, a loved one pretty much cut me off at the knees. After several nights of intense and tearful prayer (both for me and the loved one), He simply replied, “Be their best cheerleader.”
“Wait…what?! Dude, I’m already doing the ‘praying for those who persecute you’ thing. Be their best cheerleader? What does that even mean?”
He proceeded to ‘Splain it to me…
“Think of everything they’ve done, how they’ve helped and loved you up to this point, what an awesome friend and supporter they’ve always been, what’s happening in their life right now apart from you…
Cheer them on.”
Definitely an unexpected directive…but…
As usual, the absolutely right and perfect one, going the absolutely right and perfect way.
Because, God.
So what happened this September should’ve come as no surprise to me.
Two girlfriends and I had been planning a “pilgrimage” to England for eleven years, and it was finally happening! Our itinerary involved crisscrossing the country by train, visiting five cities and “anything and everything Jane Austen.” I’m spilling all the deets to two prayer warriors at church, days before our departure, and they, of course, ask “How can we pray for you and your friends?”
My mouth opens and out comes something that never entered my mind before that moment…
“Pray that we can spread Jesus’ love and light to everyone we meet. That people will see Him through us and be drawn to us. That we can minister to those who have needs, even if it’s just a smile, or making them feel truly heard and appreciated and known.”
During our two-week expedition, those prayers were answered, over and over again, in a huge way…museum guides, grocery store clerks, security guards, railway passengers, other tourists, workers in shops, pub owners, Uber drivers. A woman we met while watching the Grand Regency Parade in Bath exclaimed (in her oh-so-posh accent), “If I come to America, can I be a part of your gang?”
When anyone asks what the number one highlight of the trip was for me, I respond without hesitation…
“The connections we made with others.”
In the past my concerns have always been “safe travels, a smooth plane flight, the ability to deal with unforeseen snags, and favorable weather.”
I was thinking way too small.
A vacation can be so. much. more! It’s an opportunity to cross paths with those we might never have encountered otherwise, to change their day, maybe change their life. It’s a chance to share different experiences…and hopes and dreams…and pain and joy…and Jesus.
To invite someone to join our gang…the best posse this side of heaven!
Abroad or home, we can step out the door with confidence and intention.
With a mission.
An adventure awaits…
In unexpected directives.