Joe Mazzulla won an NBA championship as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. In a post-game interview, he talked about how important it is for players to buy into what their coaches are teaching them. He said, "A coach's greatest gift is a group of guys that want to be coached, that want to be led." He said he appreciates that they have an environment where learning, coaching, getting better, and developing are important.
You can't be an effective coach if your athletes won't let you.
A teacher, coach, or leader can have the best plans and ideas for you, but if you aren’t willing to listen and do what they ask, sometimes forcing you to get out of your comfort zone, you are putting a lid on your potential and on the potential of the team.
Discernment is knowing what is good for you and what is not, and wisdom is doing today what your future self will thank you for, like listening to a good leader and following their lead.
Philip is an example of a person with both discernment and wisdom, as he received blessings by listening to and following the Holy Spirit. When Jesus returned to heaven, His followers faced persecution from Jewish leaders, so as they worked to spread the message of Jesus throughout the world, they had to be careful because the Jewish leaders were arresting and even killing them. Philip was one of the original seven deacons chosen by the early church to help lead and make wise decisions for the health and safety of the group.
The story of Philip can be found in Acts 8. While the religious leader Saul was going from house to house, dragging Christians out and sending them to prison, Philip was traveling through the area, spreading the message about Jesus, and was so blessed by God and the Holy Spirit that the Bible says he was able to heal people and perform miracles.
But Philip’s blessings required him to get out of his comfort zone and trust and listen to God.
The Holy Spirit told Philip to leave the comforts of Jerusalem and travel to the desert road leading to Gaza, and he didn't hesitate to trust God's leadership and guidance and do so. On that road, he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch, a high-ranking official who was reading the prophet Isaiah. Recognizing the man's spiritual hunger, Philip spoke with him and explained the meaning of the scripture he was reading.
This encounter highlights Philip's willingness to seize new opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. He didn't shy away from approaching a stranger, even one from a different cultural background. This event marked a significant milestone in the spread of the gospel, as it reached a new audience and expanded the boundaries of the early Christian church.
Do you have Philip’s faith and courage? Are you willing to obey God and His call, even when it takes you out of your comfort zone?
Will you be willing to listen and learn from the people who teach, coach, and lead you when you are being asked to do something new and it gets uncomfortable?
Pray that God will open your eyes to opportunities to both share the gospel and equip you with the boldness and wisdom to engage in meaningful conversations about faith, while also giving you the discernment, wisdom, and discipline to make great decisions every day.
Something(s) to Think About
1 - What is your biggest takeaway from this devotional?
2 - What is something you think God is calling you to do but you are struggling with getting out of your comfort zone to do?
3 - What is the struggle? What is the thing holding you back?
4 - What is your next step? What is something simple you can do to take the first step toward obeying God?
My Prayer
Our Father. Thank you for the many blessings you have given, and thank you in advance for the many blessings coming my way. I know there are thoughts, decisions, and habits that are holding me back from truly living the life that you want for me. Please help me have the discernment, wisdom, confidence, and discipline to make the necessary changes and do the things I need to do to live the life you have planned for me. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
For a printable PDF of this post, click here: Philip: Following the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit
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