“An angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza…’ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him…
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.”
“Saul,.. breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked… if he… might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he went on his way, approach[ing] Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…’ And… something like scales fell from his eyes… Then he rose and was baptized.” Acts 8:26-31,35-38; 9:1-5,18
Time and again, the Lord met individuals along their way to do marvelous work. As they traveled with one intent, He interrupted and fulfilled a higher, heavenly one. They went about their temporal days, and He went about His eternal plans. There was no escaping the Lord’s broad and deep and often unexpectedly transformative purposes.
It is true and borne out in daily life, that man makes his plans yet the Lord directs his steps. We can set off in one direction with a plotted destination, and the Lord jolts us with an unexpected detour and turns us toward something completely different so His greater will is accomplished. Our detailed itinerary plus the Lord’s interruption equals a whole new agenda. He reveals Himself and alters our course through surprising details along the way to teach eternal lessons. (Proverbs 16:9)
How often do we set about our intentions and come face-to-face with the unexpected? Are we open to learning new facets of His character, sensitive to conviction, resilient to changes of practical and spiritual direction? What established patterns or attitudes might He want to transform?
As we tick through our schedules, how receptive are we to divine interruptions? How willing are we to explore the why and what He wants to accomplish? Looking back, what changes of heart and direction has He maneuvered as we’ve gone about what we thought was the good way? How can we be better prepared to welcome His messing with our plans in order to accomplish His?
Lord, help me welcome Your interspersed revelations along my daily road, and respond with gratitude, obedience, and praise.
As the rain and snow 