Following God's Call

Acts 8:26

Published on: July 16, 2018

Last Updated on: November 14, 2024

Photo by Ed Jarrett

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Acts 8:26 NIV

Philip was in the midst of a revival in Samaria. And great numbers of people were coming to the Lord. It was an exciting time, and Philip was being greatly used by the Lord there. But, amid it all, Philip was instructed to leave Samaria. To leave when the revival was going strong. And to go out to the desert, a multi-day journey away. Sometimes, God’s call does not make sense to us.

I can imagine the struggle I would have gone through if God called me to go to Samaria instead of Philip. Who wants to leave a place or ministry where God is obviously at work and is using you? And then to go off into the desert where nothing is happening or is likely to happen? But Philip obeyed, and God arranged for his encounter with an Ethiopian man who was seeking. As a result of Philip’s teaching, he became a believer and took the gospel back home with him.

Respond to God’s Call

Never be afraid to respond to God’s call in your life, whether to a new place or a new ministry. You never know what he has in store for you. But if you are faithful to his call, you can be assured that he has a purpose and will use you wherever he leads.

Listen to Jesus, the Beloved Son of God – Mark 9:5-7

Many people throughout history have had valuable things to say. But none that compare to Jesus. Listen to Jesus and what he has to say.

Leave Judgment to the Lord – 1 Corinthians 4:4-5

And God has called each of us to serve in different ways. We are answerable to him, not each other. So, leave judgment to the Lord.

Choosing the Path of Faithfulness – Psalm 119:29-30

The path of faithfulness is the path of obedience to God, the path that ends in eternal life. This can be a lonely and hard path to travel.

The Bitter Fruit of Disobedience – 1 Samuel 4:10-11

The story of Hophni and Phinehas is a sad one. Israel’s spiritual leadership was currupt and the whole nation suffered the fruit of their disobedience.

Additional Related Posts

Acts Bible Study Obedience

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Ed Jarrett

Just an old clay jar that God continues to see fit to use in his kingdom's work. I am retired, married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. I have followed Jesus for many years. And I love to share what He has given me from His word.

A Note to Readers

The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.