When You Just Say Yes
April 24, 2025
Scripture
“And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him…”
— Acts 8:29-30a (ESV)
Devotional Thought
The Great Commission wasn’t just about going everywhere.
It was about saying yes—wherever.
Philip wasn’t an apostle. He wasn’t preaching to crowds like Peter.
But when the angel said, “Rise and go…”—he went.
Where?
To the desert.
To a road that felt like a dead end.
To a chariot carrying a foreign, high-ranking official from Ethiopia.
This was not strategic.
It wasn’t on Philip’s preaching schedule.
It wasn’t flashy or efficient.
But it was God’s plan.
And Philip said yes.
What happened next is wild:
That Ethiopian man was already reading Isaiah 53—a prophecy about Jesus.
But he didn’t understand it.
He was curious. Hungry. Open.
And Philip didn’t preach a sermon.
He sat beside him.
He started where he was (Acts 8:35).
And he told him about Jesus.
That’s how the gospel spreads.
Not just in packed churches, but in quiet moments beside confused people.
What Can We Learn?
1. God leads in strange ways—but always with purpose.
The road was desert.
The assignment was awkward.
But God had a hungry heart waiting.
Obedience sometimes feels random—but God’s not random.
2. Gospel conversations often start with questions.
The Ethiopian man was reading—but he needed help.
Philip didn’t lecture. He asked a question: “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
Start with a question. Lean in. Be present.
3. Say yes—even when it’s one person.
Philip left a growing revival in Samaria to talk to one man in a chariot.
One yes led to one conversation, which led to one baptism… and who knows how many lives were changed because of that one moment?
What Does This Mean for Us?
You don’t have to preach to crowds.
You don’t need a stage.
But if you follow Jesus, you’ve got a chariot nearby—someone curious, confused, or hurting.
Someone who needs you to sit down beside them and point to Jesus.
That might look like:
•A friend going through a breakup.
•A teammate wrestling with anxiety.
•A classmate asking hard questions about life or faith.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
Just be willing to say yes.
Thursday Challenge: Say Yes to One Person
Who’s your chariot moment this week?
☑️ Ask God to open your eyes to someone near you.
☑️ Ask a question. Listen well. Don’t rush.
☑️ When the moment comes, share how Jesus has changed your life.
The Great Commission isn’t just about going far.
It’s about going faithfully—one “yes” at a time.
Prayer
“Jesus, I want to be ready when You call. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it’s small. Help me to listen for Your Spirit, to follow Your lead, and to sit beside the people You’re already working on. Give me courage. Give me words. And give me love. I’m not the hero—You are. But I want to be part of Your story. Amen.”
“And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him…”
— Acts 8:29-30a (ESV)
Devotional Thought
The Great Commission wasn’t just about going everywhere.
It was about saying yes—wherever.
Philip wasn’t an apostle. He wasn’t preaching to crowds like Peter.
But when the angel said, “Rise and go…”—he went.
Where?
To the desert.
To a road that felt like a dead end.
To a chariot carrying a foreign, high-ranking official from Ethiopia.
This was not strategic.
It wasn’t on Philip’s preaching schedule.
It wasn’t flashy or efficient.
But it was God’s plan.
And Philip said yes.
What happened next is wild:
That Ethiopian man was already reading Isaiah 53—a prophecy about Jesus.
But he didn’t understand it.
He was curious. Hungry. Open.
And Philip didn’t preach a sermon.
He sat beside him.
He started where he was (Acts 8:35).
And he told him about Jesus.
That’s how the gospel spreads.
Not just in packed churches, but in quiet moments beside confused people.
What Can We Learn?
1. God leads in strange ways—but always with purpose.
The road was desert.
The assignment was awkward.
But God had a hungry heart waiting.
Obedience sometimes feels random—but God’s not random.
2. Gospel conversations often start with questions.
The Ethiopian man was reading—but he needed help.
Philip didn’t lecture. He asked a question: “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
Start with a question. Lean in. Be present.
3. Say yes—even when it’s one person.
Philip left a growing revival in Samaria to talk to one man in a chariot.
One yes led to one conversation, which led to one baptism… and who knows how many lives were changed because of that one moment?
What Does This Mean for Us?
You don’t have to preach to crowds.
You don’t need a stage.
But if you follow Jesus, you’ve got a chariot nearby—someone curious, confused, or hurting.
Someone who needs you to sit down beside them and point to Jesus.
That might look like:
•A friend going through a breakup.
•A teammate wrestling with anxiety.
•A classmate asking hard questions about life or faith.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
Just be willing to say yes.
Thursday Challenge: Say Yes to One Person
Who’s your chariot moment this week?
☑️ Ask God to open your eyes to someone near you.
☑️ Ask a question. Listen well. Don’t rush.
☑️ When the moment comes, share how Jesus has changed your life.
The Great Commission isn’t just about going far.
It’s about going faithfully—one “yes” at a time.
Prayer
“Jesus, I want to be ready when You call. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it’s small. Help me to listen for Your Spirit, to follow Your lead, and to sit beside the people You’re already working on. Give me courage. Give me words. And give me love. I’m not the hero—You are. But I want to be part of Your story. Amen.”