Why Am I Here?

 Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

     Acts 8:4-8 says, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.  And there was great joy in that city.”

     I have to admit that there have been times in my life when I wondered why certain things took place.  I may have ended up in a different location than planned.  When I joined the Navy, I was programmed to go to Norman, Oklahoma to go to a Navy  school for the rate of “Guided Missleman.”  I ended up going  to Washington, D.C. to become a Navy musician.  Instead of going West, I went East.  

     God always has a way of moving people from one course or destination to another one that may be just the opposite of what  we may think or have planned.  The above passage is part of the story  of Philip  as he had an evangelistic meeting going on in Samaria.  As the passage tells the narrative,  great joy was found in that city.  One may think that  Samaria was the place for Philip as the ministry was really going well and people were believing in the Lord Jesus Christ but God had a different plan for Philip.  He obeyed the Spirit’s call and left Samaria to head South to Gaza to meet up with a lone man in a chariot.  He eventually found the man, went up t o him and soon the man was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ         and the gospel was headed to Ethiopia and the court of Candace the queen.   We often do not see the “big picture” of God’s plan and what might seem to be foolish to us is just the opposite to God.  Philip may not have even known why he was sent to Gaza.  What  is important for us is to be obedient to God’s direction and in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, to be obedient in the proclamation of the Gospel message.  We often say that “hindsight  is better than foresight.”  Again, it is because we don’t see the whole picture.  You may find yourself in a different town  than expected or even in a hospital or even in prison but God has His reasons.   Chuck Colson, the author of “Born Again”  ended up in jail for the Watergate involvement but  the ministry to prisoners was needed and God used Chuck to reach many people with the Gospel.  Without Watergate, I probably would never have heard of Chuck Colson.  Be constantly ready to share God’s Word wherever and whenever God directs.  Praise God for His constant  guidance.