Instant Obedience

I was reading Acts 8 (much) earlier today and was struck by Philip's immediate obedience in four different verses. In verse 26, an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) Verse 27 says, 'So he got up and went;' No delay, no whining about how hot it was or that it was a desert road, he just 'got up and went.'

Then, in verse 29, the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." Again, no rationalizing, but verse 30 says, 'Philip ran up...' He didn't stop because he didn't know the man in the chariot or that he (probably) looked like an official of some sort, or maybe even royalty. No, he RAN up...immediately. He didn't walk or shuffle his feet, scratching his head, wondering if this was really a smart thing to do.

Then, in verse 34, the eunuch said to Philip, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself of of someone else?" Again, verse 35 tells us, "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him."

Now, I could stop there, but it goes on to say that as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" Philip's immediate response was to ascertain whether or not the eunuch believed in Christ. As soon as the eunuch said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Philip ordered the chariot to stop, went down into the water, with the eunuch, and he baptized him. He didn't tell him to get baptized as soon as he made it back to Ethiopia, since he wasn't a pastor.

I'd never before been so impressed with Philip. In previous readings, I thought it was cool how the Lord used Philip, but I think I may have missed WHY the Lord used Philip so much in this brief window of time captured in this passage of Scripture. He was INSTANTLY OBEDIENT!

It reminds me of teaching I heard one Sunday a few years ago. The pastor said that delayed obedience is disobedience. Oh, my...it pierced me. And yet, a few years later, I have to wonder (or do I really?) how quick I am to obey Him. Oh, to be like Philip! I fear we are all too ready to have to 'weigh things out' before we obey Him. hmmm...interesting how I switched from 'me' to 'we,' isn't it? Perhaps I/we'd be much more used by Him if we were quicker to obey when we hear His voice. May I and may we.