Shine – To Those With A Seeking Heart
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, forgive me today for times that I chose to wrongly approach Your Word and Your creation. I desire to learn and grow in how to honestly live life as a Christ follower. Open the eyes of my heart that I might see You. Amen
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 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, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So, he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:26-31 NIV
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 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?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 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. Acts 8:34-39 NIV
REFLECT:
What an opportunity to have a God seeking royal official from another country invite you to join his Bible study. That is exactly where the angel led Philip (the Deacon, as opposed to Philip the Apostle, see Acts 6:1-6 NIV,). But Philip did not know that. Philip was simply directed to a desert road and then to a vehicle to hang out. Yet Philip was prepared and willing for the opportunity that presented itself. He eagerly joined the official and studied the Word of God together, as he must have done many times before with other believers and possibly even the Apostles of Christ. Just as Esther in Esther 4:14 was prepared “for such a time as this,” Philip took advantage of the opportunity to make an eternal difference because he was willing and ready.
APPLY:
Regardless of your experience, knowledge or maturity as a Christian, the Spirit of God desires to use you to share the hope and peace of knowing Christ. We should always be growing through personal and corporal study of God’s Word. At the same time, we should be ready, willing, and actively seeking any time to share our lives and hope with any person seeking a new direction. We should understand that God will honor any desire in our hearts to share Him and His love to this hurting world. Much of my Christian life I have had the opportunity to mentor many young men through study, memorization, and application of God’s Word. I cannot overstate the joy in seeing people come to faith and grow in their walk with Christ. To see His change in hearts open to the work of the Holy Spirit and knowing that it is an eternal difference being realized is so rewarding. It’s a hoot to see others “on their way rejoicing.” (vs. 39)
CLOSING PRAYER:
Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. In Jesus name, Amen.