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 …
- from Acts 8:26-27

Today’s passage contains one of the most fascinating guidance passages in the Bible. One of the principles in this passage can make a tremendous difference when you’re trying to navigate a fork in the road in life.

Philip gets clear direction from an angel: “Head this direction on this road … this specific road … are you sure you know which road because I’m going to tell you again just in case you weren’t sure?” Three times the angel clarifies the road details. But Philip isn’t told why he needs to head to that road, what he’ll be doing there, or what he needs to do to prepare. He isn’t even told how long his journey will be!

Philip will get more instructions later in the passage. All he’s given to start with is a direction. But that was enough.

We often find ourselves in our journey with the Lord in similar situations. We have direction but not details. What this forces us to do is to go about with our eyes wide open and our antenna way up.

As we’ll see tomorrow, Philip is about to encounter a man on the road and to have a significant spiritual conversation with him. God’s Spirit is actively at work setting up this encounter. But at the time Philip heads out on the desert road, those details are still hidden from him.

Philip knows just enough to get moving in the right direction and he’s willing to act on it. And it sets events in motion (as we’ll see tomorrow) that actually do catapult the good news to the ends of the earth. We each need to act on what we know. We may not know the whole plan, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take the next step.

What’s God’s next step for you? What do you need to do next to grow in intimacy with him, in service to others, and in engagement with God’s mission? How can you take a next step despite not knowing the whole plan?