Day 29: Acts 8:26-40
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
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It amazes me that the Creator of the Universe, the Mighty God, desires to have a relationship with each of us. In today’s passage it is obvious that Philip had this kind of an interactive relationship with God.
It amazes me that before Jesus left earth to join our Father God in heaven, He left a helper, the Holy Spirit, to intercede for us and to speak to us concerning his wonderful plans.
It amazes me that God has a purpose for us today just like He did for Philip. Philip not only heard the plan but quickly was obedient to live out that plan.
It amazes me that God loves each of us so much that He reconciled us to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Philip was fully aware of this redemptive love and work of Jesus and desired to express this to the Ethiopian eunuch who was a court official.
It amazes me that God gives to each of us the ministry of reconciling others to Himself. As Philip, we are to faithfully live out our calling to join God in this work of the transformation of lives. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing.
The gospel amazes me. Does it amaze you? Does it amaze each of us so much that we fully embrace the calling given to us from God?
Be amazed and be faithful today.
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Dave Stratton | Director of Business Development, Allen Economic Development Group