Doc's Messenger

“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 . . .”

Acts 8:26-27 (NIV)

Her father-in-law “Doc” was a patient in the hospital, seriously ill with congestive heart failure. Although he had no relationship with the Lord, he had been blanketed in prayer for years by many friends and family, my friend shared with me.

She had been visiting with him one day and had left long enough to grab some lunch before returning just a few minutes later.

When she walked back into his room, he greeted her with “Well, I got things straightened out with the man upstairs.” She responded “Who?” as she wondered what patient on the upper hospital floor had a problem with him.

“I’ve straightened out things with the Lord” her father-inn-law replied. He went on to explain that a man had come into his room after she left and talked to him about the Lord and he had asked Jesus to come into his heart.

She was overjoyed and hurried to the nurse’s station to find out the name of the chaplain on duty as she shared with the nurses what her father-in-law had told her.

But their response was not what she had anticipated. “We have no chaplain on duty today,” they said and went on to tell her that they had not seen anyone going into his room while she was gone.

Doc was eventually well enough to leave the hospital and was baptized by a minister who came to his home. He passed away a few months after that.

In chapter 8 of the book of Acts, beginning with verse 26, an Ethiopian eunuch was struggling to understand the book of Isaiah as he traveled home from Jerusalem. Suddenly Philip appeared on the road and asked him if he understood what he was reading. When the eunuch replied that he did not, he invited Philip to explain it to him.

And what was the result of Philip sharing Jesus?  The baptism of the eunuch a few miles down the road. As they came up out of the water, Scripture records that “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away” and the Ethiopian eunuch never saw him again.  But he continued on his way, celebrating what had happened.

How did Philip find himself on that exact road at that exact time? He responded to the nudging of the Lord to go to a desert road. He had no idea why but simply knew that God had a plan. He could have said “I have more important things on my plate today, Lord” or “How big a deal is it, Lord? Can it wait?” but he did not. God directed and he was obedient. The result: a decision for the Lord and a baptism.

What about you and me? When the Spirit prompts us to share Jesus (and He does prompt us), how do we respond? Do we hurry to meet whoever the Lord has placed in our path or do we come up with excuses why we can’t go.

There are people all around us who, like “Doc,” have been prayed for by friends and family for years. And they are praying for a messenger to share Jesus.

I do not know who the Lord sent to “Doc’s” room but I can tell you that he was willing to share the message of Jesus and make a difference for eternity. May we be willing to do the same.

Father, please help me to always be in tune with your prompting to share the name of Jesus with those who do not know Him. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt the Lord speaking to your heart to share His name with someone?

• Did you do it? Why or why not?

Apply

• Journal a list of Scriptures that focus on the path of salvation. Put this list in your Bible.

• Pray, asking the Lord to direct you to someone who needs to know Him and ask that He will set up a divine appointment so you can share from your heart.

Power

• Acts 8:26-27 (NIV) “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 . . .”

• Matthew 28:19 (NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .”

• Galatians 6:9 (NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”