Philip And The Nudge
Obedience to something small.
On acting on a prompting you cannot fully explain.
The big idea
A whole nation's church traces back to one man going over to a chariot.
Opening scripture
“The Spirit said to Philip: go over and stay near that chariot.”
What does “Philip And The Nudge” walk through?
Go Over To It
Acts 8:29 · KJV
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
In plain English
The Spirit said to Philip: go over and stay near that chariot.
An Absurdly Small Instruction
No plan, no explanation. Go and walk beside that chariot. He was in the middle of a successful ministry elsewhere and left it for a single conversation on a desert road.
“Most of what God asks is smaller than we expect and stranger than we would have chosen.”
Quick To Listen
James 1:19 · KJV
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
In plain English
Listen first, speak carefully, and don’t rush into anger. This helps relationships stay healthy.
He Directs The Path
Proverbs 3:6 · KJV
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
In plain English
Include God in every part of life. He will guide your decisions and direction.
Obedience Before Understanding
Philip did not get the significance until afterwards. The nudge rarely arrives with its reasons attached.
Pray
God, make me quick to do the small thing you ask. Amen.
Write it down
What small prompting have you been talking yourself out of?
Go over to it
Do the small obedient thing today.
Which passages does this journey use?
3 passages, drawn from Acts 8:29, James 1:19, Proverbs 3:6. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 6 minutes for the whole thing, or 7 short sittings.
- Acts 8:29
- James 1:19
- Proverbs 3:6
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
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