Seize the Day

If there is something that needs to be done, we need to get busy doing it because no one knows what tomorrow may bring.

Throughout history we have examples of folks who were instructed by God to act and they obeyed. God told Abraham to leave his home. Abraham obeyed and the result was the nation of Israel, just as God promised. David, when confronted with Goliath whom others feared, used a sling, a stone and his faith to bring Goliath down. And Moses left Egypt, found out that he was not who he thought he was, and received instructions from God to return to Egypt and free his people from slavery. Each one of these people obediently seized the day. All of these exhibit passionate obedience. To have that passionate obedience and seize the day go well together.

Throughout time, God has spoken to man in many ways: a burning bush, through angels, even a donkey. He spoke to us through a cross and an innocent carpenter who was hung upon that cross. Today, for all that have a personal relationship with Christ, we have a great privilege of the Holy Spirit within us. We do not hear God in an audible voice, but he speaks to us through the spirit. He presents us with opportunities to share the joy of Jesus Christ and what he has done in our lives. We must be passionately obedient, ready to seize the day and share Christ's love.

We can find a prime example of passionate obedience in Philip. Chapter 8 of the book of Acts tells us that Philip was in Samaria during a time of great revival. Everything was going well; but God had another plan for Philip, and it was not in Samaria.

"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea." Acts 8:26-40

So Philip left that great revival and headed down the road to Gaza. He had no idea where or why he was going. He did not know he would meet this Ethiopian who needed to learn about Jesus. Even so, Philip went because he was obedient to God's will. We should be ready and willing to obey God even when it seems to make no sense to us. Don't miss any opportunity God puts in front of you because it is easier to just make excuses. There are people all around us who need and want to know the truth and as a member of God's army, it is our responsibility to share with them what Jesus did for us. When God calls us to do so, be available, be obedient. Seize the day!