1064. Sought of God

Sought of God

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink" (Joh_7:37).

Let us not imagine that God's sending Philip to the help of this inquiring and burdened Ethiopian was the first step in God's search for him. Not at all. From the very beginning, God was in it all.

Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost. He is still seeking them out. He has commanded His Church to go into all the world and seek until it finds.

When we see a seeking sinner, we may rest assured that there is not far away a seeking Saviour.

Indeed the very yearning of the Ethiopian was from the Spirit's work. No wonder then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert."

Today the same call is often heard: "Who will go, and whom shall I send?"

"Go out in the byways and search them all;

The wheat may be there, tho' the weeds are tall;

Then search in the highway, pass none by,

But gather from all for the Home on high."

"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace!" These missionaries of the Cross do not go forth alone. They are more than sent of God. They are accompanied by God. God is in them as they go.

How glad we are, as we read the words, "And he arose and went." Philip was not disobedient to the Spirit's call. Of course, he was having a good time in Samaria, and he might have argued the need there. Of course, the way he was commanded to go was desert, and he might have argued the weariness of such a journey. He might have done many things. Jonah did. But Philip did not argue, did not hesitate; he quickly arose and went.

"When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word;

What a glory He sheds on our way,

While we do His good will, He abides with us still;

And with all who will trust and obey."

"How can they hear without a preacher?" Is not this quotation involved in the very language which the Ethiopian spoke? Philip asked him, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" and he replied, "How can I, except some man should guide me?"

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR