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Meet Them Where They're At
Tim Savage30Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”31The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. Acts 8
Philip followed God’s calling and will and was walking down the road to Gaza when he
met the Treasurer of Ethiopia, an important and powerful official to Queen Kandake.
The official rode in his carriage and read aloud from Isaiah but Philip discerned that he
didn’t understand what he was reading. Prompted by the Spirit, Philip ran up to the
carriage and spoke to him. People need help in understanding God’s instructions.
They need the cookies taken down from the high shelf and put out on the table so they
can reach them. We must meet people where they are – on the streets, in the
classroom, in the office, in the gym, on the ball field or wherever God gives us the divine
opportunity to share His story. We must use whatever resources are around us to shine
His light.
On this big film shoot for our Doing Church as a Team conference that we just completed, we worked with Amira, who is a veteran of Hawaii 5-0: smart, experienced and cynical. Walea, our state film liaison, required us to work with her to ensure a smooth street closure and she, of course, was a bit skeptical to work with a church on such an ambitious project. While working closely with Mardi, she observed a talented cast and crew working hard to tell a compelling and captivating story, she met a bunch of people who believed in what they were doing and why they were doing it, she noticed that everyone was there with a great attitude because they wanted to be there and it caused her to wonder why. She asked Mardi a lot of questions and our prayer is that we can continue the conversation and hopefully, one day, see her, her husband and her friends in church.
We need to meet people where they’re at, in the midst of our busy day, and make the
most of the opportunities that God gives us. We have the joy and peace of the Lord and
we must share it with a world who so desperately needs it. Our lives speak volumes to
those around us. The way we live and work must cause people to stop and ask why
because our actions speak much louder than words.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your favor over our shoot, may the video move people to a closer
relationship with You. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your story with those that
You put in front of us. May we be an example that draws others to You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
