Prayer: Speak to our hearts, O God, through your Word. Guide our actions in sharing your gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Where is the Spirit calling us?
(Adapted from Christ in Our Home – daily devotions)
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.”
Today’s story about Philip’s calling is one of my favorites. The Holy Spirit was not just calling Philip, but the Ethiopian eunuch. The Ethiopian was reading from Isaiah after having visited Jerusalem. As is the case today, it is hard for non-believers to follow the scriptures without someone to add context.
Note that Philip did not just barge in to share his faith, but he and the Ethiopian were put in the same place at the right time. Such is the case for how we might be called to share our faith with others. But be ready when that time may come for us. We need to be listening. Have you ever been moved to respond to someone and wondered if it was an opportunity to help them understand something about Jesus? Or maybe encountered someone in crisis and you were moved to help them. Did it involve someone needing help with faith? Or was it about someone confused and looking for answers?
Our devotion writer grew up with one faith but didn’t understand who Jesus really was. It was with the help of several “Philips” that she gained insight and was baptized when she was thirty years old.
Our devotion writer asks, “Who in your life needs the same loving friendship, patient listening, and wise proclamation of the gospel? Where is the Spirit nudging you to go?”
Prayer: “Holy Spirit, direct us to the people you are preparing us to reach with the good news of Jesus. Amen.”
Acts 8:26-40
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, 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 snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Gary's Devotion Comments 