“I needed some fuel for the car yesterday,” Stan commented, “and I stopped by Philip’s Fill-Up over on Abernathy Street.”
“I haven’t been there for awhile,” I said. “I’ve been going to Big Box when I need some gas. It’s a little cheaper. How’s Philip doing?”
“He said things have slowed down,” Stan replied, “but he also said that’s just fine with him. Gives him more time to do why he’s named ‘Philip’.”
“What’d he mean by that?” I asked.
“You familiar with Philip in the Bible?”
“A little,” I replied. “He was one of the apostles wasn’t he?”
“That’s right,” Stan said. “Jesus appointed him as one of the twelve.”
“In the early church,” he continued, “God was using Philip in a mighty and successful way to spread the truth of the gospel, but Philip was willing to leave whatever he was doing when God had something else for him to do.”
“He was always ready to be used by God?” I said. “Is that it?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “Whenever, wherever, and however. That’s what Philip the apostle did when God told him to arise and go elsewhere. And that’s what Philip at the gas station is ready to do if that’s what God wants. And it seems to me that’s what God has for me and for each one of us.”
“Sounds kind of like discipleship,” I said with a smile.
“In what way, my friend?” Stan asked.
“How about deny what I want to do apart from God,” I replied, “then take up what He has for me to take up, and then follow Him just as He intends?”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Stan said with a smile.
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Bible verses to consider:
The next day He purposed to go forth into Galilee, and He found Philip, and Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” John 1:43.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: . . . Philip . . . . Matthew 10:2-3.
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Arise and go forth south to the road that descends to Gaza.” And he arose and went. Acts of the Apostles 8:26-27.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have places for me to go and things for me to do for you and for your kingdom. I confess that too often I am unwilling to hear your voice and follow your leading. I do that because I want to do what I want to do apart from you. Please forgive that foolishness, and please help me to follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, go where you have for me to go, and I do what you have for me to do for you and for your kingdom. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you chosen to go where God has for you to go in the sense that you know you will spend eternity in His presence when it’s time? If no, why? What’s in the way of accepting His free and gracious provision of salvation and redemption? If you are a Christian, how are you doing with going and doing as God has for you on this side of eternity? If you sense the need for change in how you listen to and obey what God has for you, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 