March 5, 2009 - Acts 8:30

“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.” Acts 8:30.
Philip was on his way having been instructed to go along the desert road to Gaza. As he was traveling, he noticed a chariot and heard the one sitting in it reading from Isaiah, the prophet. Philip ran up to the chariot and asked him if he understood what he was reading. At first glance this could look as if it were only travelers making conversation while on their journey together. But there was more going on here!
The eunuch in this chariot was an important emissary of the Queen of Ethiopia, and was probably not traveling alone. In fact, he most likely had quite an entourage traveling on official business from the Queen’s court. Philip could have been intimidated by the large traveling party, but he ran up to the chariot anyway. This meeting could have been viewed as quite a coincidence, yet Philip, ever keeping his awareness on what God had called him to do, stepped up to this chariot in boldness.
A friend of mine says, “When I pray more, it seems that more ‘coincidences’ happen.” I have also noticed that it is when I have the sense that fresh communication with God is occurring that things just seem to happen. Philip was keenly aware of the job that he was to do, yet he was not particularly sure how it was to be fulfilled. He was open to whatever opportunities were presented to him. Because of his freshness in relationship with God, he was more aware of those “coincidences” – those divine encounters – that God sets before all of us.
Questions to consider: How fresh are you with God today? If you are not particularly fresh, what will it take to get fresh? Do you see any “coincidences” happening in your life? Prayer: Father, it is my desire to be fresh and up-to-date in my relationship with You. Draw me close so that I might be better prepared to be Your ambassador in this world. Help me to see these “coincidences” that happen as Your divine encounters. Amen.