The Land of Where I Am

 Bible Reading: Acts 8:26-40

Key Verse: Verses 26  - “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”

Key Words: Gaza, which is desert

Joy is found in the land of “where I am.”  It is His presence, not the place, which is important.

The “where I am” land offers no immunity from insult and injury.  To serve and love others is to open yourself up to vulnerability.

C. S. Lewis wrote of this in his book entitled The Four Loves: “To love at all is to be vulnerable.  Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung out and possibly broken.  If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.  Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.  But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, and airless – it will change.  It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable, and useless.”

Philip decided to be used of God in “the land of where I am” which happened to be a desert, a dry desert.  But in the dry places of life, God used Philip because he was willing to be vulnerable.

 Today, you don’t have to be a servant in the land of “where I am;” but in saying no to servant-hood, you are saying yes to a life of darkness, motionlessness, airlessness, and uselessness.  The joy of the Christian life is found in service.

What to do:  

✞Remember, the joy of the Christian life is found in service.