Bible Society: Pentecost Reflections Day 5
Hi Friend
Welcome to day five of your Pentecost reflection series, unpacking the role of the Holy Spirit in Scripture and in our lives. A challenge to act …
Today’s Bible verses
Acts 8.26–35 (GNB) <https://biblesociety.cmail19.com/t/r-l-tyitjtjy-bilwlltil-r/>
‘… he told him the Good News about Jesus.’
Today’s reflection
Last year I read a superb little book called The 10-Second Rule by Clare DeGraaf. The rule, as the writer describes it, is very simple: ‘Within ten seconds, do the next thing you’re reasonably sure Jesus wants you to do, and you could change a life forever.’
The point is that we all get ‘nudges’ to do certain things. A person to call, a note to write, maybe we see someone while we’re out and feel that we should say hello or offer help. Clare DeGraaf encourages us to consider that these might be divine prompts, Spirit-led nudges to live out our faith in lots of small acts of kindness.
We don’t need to be sure – as humans, we’ll get it wrong sometimes – but the point is: if the thought that crosses your mind is a good one, if it seeks the other person’s good and wellbeing, then it’s pretty likely that God would smile if we did it. Indeed, we might even conclude that he put the thought there in the first place.
Ultimately, the underlying theology is that Christian character is shaped less by our big, dramatic decisions than by the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of simple obedience. But DeGraaf is right to observe that we shouldn’t ‘overthink’ these nudges – which I have to admit is what I do all the time. That’s why he calls it the 10-Second Rule: you’ve got to act on the impulse quickly because if you wait more than ten seconds thinking it over and debating with yourself, the moment will have gone. The person you saw in the street will have walked past, the phone call that flitted through your mind will be replaced by thoughts of what’s for lunch, or whatever.
In today’s reading, Philip got one of these nudges. A random chariot trundled past on the road and the Spirit said to Philip: ‘Go over to that carriage and stay close to it’ (verse 29). Philip had to respond quickly. If he’d waited a while thinking it over, the chariot would have been long gone. Philip – who had learned to trust these nudges – acted immediately (verse 30) and the result was amazing. Just by ‘coincidence’ the chap in the chariot was reading the best chapter in the whole Old Testament pointing to the sacrificial death of the Messiah, and wanted someone to explain it! The result: a new follower of Jesus and moreover, an influential leader travelling back to another country, taking the message there with him.
Not all of our ‘divine appointments’ will be so spectacular but let’s not ignore those nudges we get to contact or to bless someone else. They might just be God’s idea and if we act on them, just like Philip, we might be part of God changing a life forever.
These Pentecost reflections were written by Revd Matt Trendall, a minister working in Milton Keynes
Today’s prayer
Please give me a nudge today and please give me the confidence to act on it quickly. Thank you that you choose to speak to me and use me. Spirit guide me today.
Today’s action
Take a moment today to ask God for a nudge as well as the courage to act on it..