We all need a bit of "Get up and Go!"

Prayer for the Day

Isaiah 6

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" "Here I am," I said; "send me!"

Isaiah 6:8

Reflection

In Acts 8:26-40, the angel of the Lord speaks to Philip and says, "Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route."

 Now, that's a pretty specific command. Not only to get up and go, but exactly where to go. The angel didn't say why. And Philip didn't question why. (Would you question an angel of the Lord, after all?) The Scripture simply indicates Philip's response: "So he got up and set out."

We don't know what Philip was doing. Was he sleeping?  Having a “bit of the grape” with friends? Or taking care of something he considered important? Whatever it was, he put it aside in order to "get up and go," at the direction of the angel. He didn't lollygag around, waiting and wondering if it was worth taking the time or making the effort. He just obeyed.

The result was a wonderful, but unlikely scene. The Ethiopian eunuch is seated in his chariot while traveling home from Jerusalem. And as he journeys he is reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. As we subsequently learn, he is reading without understanding the meaning of what he is reading. When I thought about this scene it struck me as strange. Today I can't think of anyone who, while going on a journey, would pass the time on a plane or train by reading a book that they couldn't understand. Obviously the next question is why was the eunuch reading Isaiah of all things?

It seems the Lord had prearranged the whole scenario, almost like a piece of ripe fruit ready to be harvested. All Philip had to do was obey the angel's command to get up and go. The Lord took care of the rest as it unfolded, and as Philip continued to obey Him.

How long had the eunuch been wondering about that Scripture?  St. Luke, who wrote the Acts of the Apostles, tells us that the eunuch had made the trip to Jerusalem to worship. Somehow he had heard about the one true God and that the great temple at Jerusalem was the most sacred place to worship God. Since he was a very important and powerful man in Ethiopia, he was able to arrange to journey to Jerusalem to see the temple and to worship there. He must have been very impressed with the temple and sincerely worshipped there. During his stay at the temple, the eunuch had obtained a copy of the prophecies of Isaiah the prophet. He began to read the prophecies on his homeward journey, but since he was not familiar with the writings and customs of the Jews, he was unable to understand the meaning of the text. But he seems to have had a sincere desire to know and understand the book of Isaiah.

Would he soon have given up trying to understand it, if Philip hadn't come along? Why had the Lord chosen that particular day and time for him to be enlightened? Was it because He knew He could depend on Philip to obey Him?

We don't know the answers to those questions any more than we know the mysteries of how God works. But we do know that the Lord is in control, and that He wants to use us to help Him in His work - if we cooperate and obey Him.

No matter where you are, the Lord has a plan for you to carry out. You may reach someone that the Lord is preparing now for an encounter with Him, using you. Chances are good you won't have to run up next to a moving chariot to do it, but the Lord will let you know what He wants.

Be attentive to His voice, and do your duty of the moment, no matter how mundane, and God will use you. Even taking out the garbage could lead to a chance encounter, or walking the dog, or getting coffee at work.  Anywhere you may be, if you "get up and go" and make an effort, the Lord will use you.

Just be aware that there is more going on with most people than meets the eye. But the Lord knows, and when you "get up and go" as He wishes, you're part of His master plan.

You may not always know when or how God uses you, at least not in this life. But be faithful to your vocation in life, be faithful to your daily duties, or perhaps an unusual circumstance once in a while, and you can be sure God will make good use of you - for His Kingdom.