Opening: Have you ever found yourself at the right place and
at the right time? That you were led somehow to be somewhere at the same moment
someone else needed someone like you? What did it feel like? How does it feel
to think that God placed you there?
Scripture: Read Acts 8:26-40.
Insights:
- We return to the story of Philip (see Friday’s lesson).
- The Ethiopian was an important official in the government of his country. But why did he go to Jerusalem? Judaism was known in his land through the influence of Queen Sheba who visited King Solomon (see 1 Kings 10). The treasurer was a proselyte of Judaism and had come to Jerusalem, but because he was a eunuch, he could not join Judaism (see Deuteronomy 23:1). As he was returning home from his religious pilgrimage, he was reading from Isaiah.
- By one count, the book of Isaiah has 38 prophecies regarding the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus. See Isaiah 7:14, 11:2, and 53:1-12 for examples.
- Philip understood that Christianity is for everyone. He baptized the eunuch, despite the fact that he might not have been admitted into full membership in the Jewish church.
Life Questions:
- Notice who initiates this encounter. It is God all along. God tells Philip to go to a particular road, and then tells him to strike up a conversation. Who is God nudging you to go to and simply start a conversation?
- Are you, as 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” like Philip was? If not, maybe you could learn how. Contact Pastor Gary if you are interested.
Prayer Focus: That we would be faithful and available to the
leading of the Holy Spirit to start a spiritual conversation.
