Walking the Desert Road

Let’s be honest here. Does anyone besides me prefer to avoid a desert experience? I mean I will be the first to raise my hand (or even both hands) to stroll in the green pastures and along the tranquil waters with Jesus any day! But those dry, hot deserts…hmmm…not really! On the other hand, if I truly want to follow Jesus and be like him, I must be willing to do as he did even when it means taking the desert road.

This spring I am in another small group Bible study with a lovely bunch of ladies. I call them my “Jesus Joy Girls” and each one is a treasure to me. We are currently studying the book of Acts and though we are just a few weeks in, there is already so much that is being gleaned as gold.

I want to share a little nugget I got this morning from my Bible study lesson. This is the verse that really spoke to me as I studied from chapter 8.

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ^{[37] [a] 38}And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹ 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. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-40)

Finally, in Verses 36-38 we are told that as Philip and the eunuch continued their journey, they came upon a body of water! Hmmm…water…in the desert! I have no idea how much water they found but it was obviously enough for both of the men to be submerged down into so the eunuch could be baptized.

Here are a few thoughts that came to me as I studied this scripture passage that I would like to share with you.

1. Am I willing to be available to do God’s work even if it means traveling a “desert” road? Am I willing to follow Philip’s example and take a detour? There are so many lost people walking in a desert of hopelessness. Regardless of the desert people are wandering in… spiritual, emotional, mental or physical…people need hope. Even within the church, there are fellow believers who are in a “desert” season because of a difficult trial or storm they may be caught in. Our greatest work for the Lord will be accomplished when we are willing to take the desert road in order to meet those who need what we have because of Jesus Christ. 
2. The word ‘RAN’ jumped off the page in verse 30. When the Lord asks me to do something, do I run to obey or do I hesitate? Do I question if that is really God giving me a mandate? I can almost promise you if it has to do with reaching a lost soul, it IS God’s voice giving instruction! We are going to find and reach more people for the kingdom on the desert roads than we ever will on the mountaintops! We are going to reach more souls OUTSIDE the four walls of the church than INSIDE those walls. 
3. I think we would all agree that the desert is most often not a “comfortable” place. However, like Jesus, I must come to an understanding of the vital importance of going to the desert places, the uncomfortable places, to reach the lost. If Jesus was willing to leave the splendor of Heaven to walk this earth in order to bring salvation, how can I remain comfortable in my little corner of “splendor” while souls perish in the desert? 
4. When God calls us to do something for him, it is never about us. It is not about our CAPABILITY, it is about our AVAILABILITY. As we avail ourselves to make a Kingdom impact, God will provide what we need even in the desert! I do not think the water that Philip and the eunuch came upon in the middle of a desert road, was there by coincidence. When we choose to partner with God, there is no such thing as a COINCIDENCE!

Friends, my prayer for all of us today is that we will be available to walk the roads the Lord directs us on. I pray we will be quick to obey and run in obedience to get to those who need the message of truth and hope through Jesus. May we have the faith to trust God completely for the provision needed to make an impact on lives for eternity.

PS: What are your thoughts as you read this Nugget today my friends? Is the Holy Spirit nudging your heart to step out in faith and obedience on something that may be uncomfortable but you know will make a difference in someone’s life? Or perhaps someone you know, is being called to run after God by taking the desert road in order to reach lost souls. Would you be an encouragement to them? I would love to pray for grace and courage for you, whatever the circumstance. Just leave a comment saying, “pray for me.” God knows.

NOTE: This blog post was written by Rosie Williams and first appeared on Nuggets from the Heart. This blog post, either in part or in its entirety, may not be copied, duplicated, edited or appear in any other publication without the written approval or permission from the author. For full copyright and disclosure information, click here. For questions regarding the use of this blog post, you may send an email to Rosie Williams by clicking here.