“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” Acts 8:35.
Philip had been invited up into the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot in order to help the eunuch understand what he was reading. By “coincidence”, he was reading from the book of Isaiah, chapter 53. In this passage, Isaiah tells of the person who, like a sheep being led to the slaughter, willingly humbled himself to the point of death for justice to be served for the many. As the eunuch read this, he did not understand and needed help to see who Isaiah was talking about. Since the events around Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection were so fresh, Philip knew exactly the meaning of this passage, and he began telling the eunuch the great story of Jesus.
Philip did not have the luxury of having his NIV (or whatever translation!) Study Bible, with all of the notes, charts, and maps, to assist him. He spoke to this man from his memory and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, starting with the scroll that the eunuch had with him. He told the story, from his perspective, as he sensed God leading him.
I wonder how many times I have held back from sharing the story of Jesus when God has given me opportunity. Unfortunately, it is probably many more times than I would care to remember! Often times in the past, I have felt that I was not adequately prepared to share the story. I was sure that I did not know enough scripture, or I was not sure if I had properly interpreted the scriptures. The truth of the matter was that I was fearful of being rejected by my audience!
I have, more recently, become more “freed up” to tell the story of Jesus. It has been exciting to see what God is doing and how He is leading, and to then for me to follow after Him.
Questions to consider: Does anything hold you back from sharing the story of Jesus? If so, how can you begin to overcome it? Do you remember times when God led you to someone to share the story of Jesus? What did that feel like?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see what You are doing and how You are leading, and help me to follow after that. Give me boldness, when I need it, to share Your story, and give me patience when I need to wait on You. Amen.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
March 19, 2009 - Acts 8:34
“The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’” Acts 8:34.
Philip has been asked to join the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot to discuss the book of Isaiah. The eunuch was journeying back to his home country when Philip caught up to him traveling on a desert road in Gaza. In seeking to understand this passage from Isaiah, chapter 53, the eunuch asks this searching question. It seems that this man was genuinely seeking to get at the truth, and he was not embarrassed to ask whatever question necessary to understand it. No question was a bad question; just the one not asked.
There was a time in my journey with Jesus that I hid behind a mask of knowledge, not knowing what else to call it. I acted as if I knew many of the “secrets” of the kingdom of God, not realizing at the time how ridiculous I appeared to those around me. I came off as a prideful know-it-all (want-to-be, at that!). As I have journeyed on, I realized to my embarrassment that I did not know it all. In fact, I am not sure that I understood much at all. But what I did have was a thirst to understand more and to learn. It was around that time that I learned there was no such thing as a dumb question other than the one not asked. Learning became a positive motivation in my life, and was now something that I would seek to do for the rest of my life. I decided to be a learner for life!
Questions to consider: Like the eunuch, are you still seeking to understand truth? Are you still growing, or are you in a rut? If you are in a rut, what will it take for you to get out?
Prayer: Father, I ask that You will always stir me up and cause me to always be a seeker who is desiring to learn Your truth. Help me to not just fill my head, but to have my life impacted for Your kingdom’s sake. Please help me to continue on the journey and use me to help others find the truth in You. Amen.
Philip has been asked to join the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot to discuss the book of Isaiah. The eunuch was journeying back to his home country when Philip caught up to him traveling on a desert road in Gaza. In seeking to understand this passage from Isaiah, chapter 53, the eunuch asks this searching question. It seems that this man was genuinely seeking to get at the truth, and he was not embarrassed to ask whatever question necessary to understand it. No question was a bad question; just the one not asked.
There was a time in my journey with Jesus that I hid behind a mask of knowledge, not knowing what else to call it. I acted as if I knew many of the “secrets” of the kingdom of God, not realizing at the time how ridiculous I appeared to those around me. I came off as a prideful know-it-all (want-to-be, at that!). As I have journeyed on, I realized to my embarrassment that I did not know it all. In fact, I am not sure that I understood much at all. But what I did have was a thirst to understand more and to learn. It was around that time that I learned there was no such thing as a dumb question other than the one not asked. Learning became a positive motivation in my life, and was now something that I would seek to do for the rest of my life. I decided to be a learner for life!
Questions to consider: Like the eunuch, are you still seeking to understand truth? Are you still growing, or are you in a rut? If you are in a rut, what will it take for you to get out?
Prayer: Father, I ask that You will always stir me up and cause me to always be a seeker who is desiring to learn Your truth. Help me to not just fill my head, but to have my life impacted for Your kingdom’s sake. Please help me to continue on the journey and use me to help others find the truth in You. Amen.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March 12, 2009 - Acts 8:31
“’How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:31.
The Ethiopian Eunuch, traveling home from Israel, was reading from, but not understanding, the book of Isaiah, when Philip came upon him on the desert road in Gaza. After a brief conversation, he invited Philip up into his chariot, and asked him to explain the book to him. This powerful eunuch from the Ethiopian court was open, inquisitive, and desired to learn Philip’s perspective. And on Philip’s part, he was very likely beginning to realize that this meeting was the reason for his journey.
I am not certain that Philip understood the full implication of this encounter. He did not have the advantage of history and did not know that this was the beginning of the Ethiopian Church, which is still in existence today, and that the message of Jesus was now going to spread to the huge continent of Africa – all from this one, brief encounter.
As I live each day, I don’t understand the potential effects that may result from each encounter. I don’t have the vibrant expectancy that characterized the early church – that each meeting I have throughout the day holds incredible potential and power for God’s purposes. Many times, I slide through the day, or, worse, I bounce around like a pinball, reacting to various situations. What happened to Philip is very instructive, for he began his journey by receiving instructions from God. This probably came as a result of his seeking God and desiring to serve Him whole-heartedly. Philip began with seeking God, and his vibrancy and expectancy came from that seeking.
Questions to consider: How do you view the encounters you have with others throughout your day? Do you see God’s hand at work in them, or, as I have experienced, do you slide through your day? What would it take for you to view your encounters as God directed?
Prayer: Father, help me to be strengthened in my quiet moments with You, so that I would be more adequately prepared in my daily encounters with others. Help me to be aware when You desire to use me to touch others, even though I may never know the full effects of the encounter. Amen.
The Ethiopian Eunuch, traveling home from Israel, was reading from, but not understanding, the book of Isaiah, when Philip came upon him on the desert road in Gaza. After a brief conversation, he invited Philip up into his chariot, and asked him to explain the book to him. This powerful eunuch from the Ethiopian court was open, inquisitive, and desired to learn Philip’s perspective. And on Philip’s part, he was very likely beginning to realize that this meeting was the reason for his journey.
I am not certain that Philip understood the full implication of this encounter. He did not have the advantage of history and did not know that this was the beginning of the Ethiopian Church, which is still in existence today, and that the message of Jesus was now going to spread to the huge continent of Africa – all from this one, brief encounter.
As I live each day, I don’t understand the potential effects that may result from each encounter. I don’t have the vibrant expectancy that characterized the early church – that each meeting I have throughout the day holds incredible potential and power for God’s purposes. Many times, I slide through the day, or, worse, I bounce around like a pinball, reacting to various situations. What happened to Philip is very instructive, for he began his journey by receiving instructions from God. This probably came as a result of his seeking God and desiring to serve Him whole-heartedly. Philip began with seeking God, and his vibrancy and expectancy came from that seeking.
Questions to consider: How do you view the encounters you have with others throughout your day? Do you see God’s hand at work in them, or, as I have experienced, do you slide through your day? What would it take for you to view your encounters as God directed?
Prayer: Father, help me to be strengthened in my quiet moments with You, so that I would be more adequately prepared in my daily encounters with others. Help me to be aware when You desire to use me to touch others, even though I may never know the full effects of the encounter. Amen.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
March 5, 2009 - Acts 8:30
“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.” Acts 8:30.
Philip was on his way having been instructed to go along the desert road to Gaza. As he was traveling, he noticed a chariot and heard the one sitting in it reading from Isaiah, the prophet. Philip ran up to the chariot and asked him if he understood what he was reading. At first glance this could look as if it were only travelers making conversation while on their journey together. But there was more going on here!
The eunuch in this chariot was an important emissary of the Queen of Ethiopia, and was probably not traveling alone. In fact, he most likely had quite an entourage traveling on official business from the Queen’s court. Philip could have been intimidated by the large traveling party, but he ran up to the chariot anyway. This meeting could have been viewed as quite a coincidence, yet Philip, ever keeping his awareness on what God had called him to do, stepped up to this chariot in boldness.
A friend of mine says, “When I pray more, it seems that more ‘coincidences’ happen.” I have also noticed that it is when I have the sense that fresh communication with God is occurring that things just seem to happen. Philip was keenly aware of the job that he was to do, yet he was not particularly sure how it was to be fulfilled. He was open to whatever opportunities were presented to him. Because of his freshness in relationship with God, he was more aware of those “coincidences” – those divine encounters – that God sets before all of us.
Questions to consider: How fresh are you with God today? If you are not particularly fresh, what will it take to get fresh? Do you see any “coincidences” happening in your life? Prayer: Father, it is my desire to be fresh and up-to-date in my relationship with You. Draw me close so that I might be better prepared to be Your ambassador in this world. Help me to see these “coincidences” that happen as Your divine encounters. Amen.
Philip was on his way having been instructed to go along the desert road to Gaza. As he was traveling, he noticed a chariot and heard the one sitting in it reading from Isaiah, the prophet. Philip ran up to the chariot and asked him if he understood what he was reading. At first glance this could look as if it were only travelers making conversation while on their journey together. But there was more going on here!
The eunuch in this chariot was an important emissary of the Queen of Ethiopia, and was probably not traveling alone. In fact, he most likely had quite an entourage traveling on official business from the Queen’s court. Philip could have been intimidated by the large traveling party, but he ran up to the chariot anyway. This meeting could have been viewed as quite a coincidence, yet Philip, ever keeping his awareness on what God had called him to do, stepped up to this chariot in boldness.
A friend of mine says, “When I pray more, it seems that more ‘coincidences’ happen.” I have also noticed that it is when I have the sense that fresh communication with God is occurring that things just seem to happen. Philip was keenly aware of the job that he was to do, yet he was not particularly sure how it was to be fulfilled. He was open to whatever opportunities were presented to him. Because of his freshness in relationship with God, he was more aware of those “coincidences” – those divine encounters – that God sets before all of us.
Questions to consider: How fresh are you with God today? If you are not particularly fresh, what will it take to get fresh? Do you see any “coincidences” happening in your life? Prayer: Father, it is my desire to be fresh and up-to-date in my relationship with You. Draw me close so that I might be better prepared to be Your ambassador in this world. Help me to see these “coincidences” that happen as Your divine encounters. Amen.
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