Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
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April 30, 2020This story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch is a great story to show us how God is always working in our lives in two specific ways: To bring us to Him or closer to Him, and for us to help bring others closer to Him.
The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” So, he got up and set out.
How often have we had the inner feelings to do something or go somewhere when the feeling just came out of nowhere. Have we listed to it like Philip?
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch who had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
He was doing spiritual reading.
Do we use our time, our free time to do any Spiritual reading?
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
Did you ever have the feeling you should say or do something to or for someone without it making sense? Maybe to a stranger, or someone you know, if it is about the Faith or something personal in their lives? And did you do it? If someone would have invited you in would you have gotten in?
If you were the eunuch would you have invited Philip in? If you were the eunuch – would you have asked for baptism, which as an adult is a deep commitment?
The Holy Spirit and the guardian angel of Philip were at work. Philip listened to the inner promptings and went out on a limb to catch up to the eunuch, and a convert was made.
The Eunuch listened to the Holy Spirit and read the book of the Bible He was inspired to read, and boldly asked for help in understanding it, and then for baptism, which required a lifelong commitment and change in his Faith.
Do we listen to the Holy Spirit and our Angel in the same ways? Do we listen to the promptings leading us to others to help them know God more or do we get timid or shy away or avoid?
Do we ask for help from the church or commentaries to understand Scripture more? And are we always ready to dive in deeper and make deeper commitments to follow God?
A Convert was the result! You may be the one to help a particular person know Jesus or know Him better, or you may be the one needing to know Him better. Either way, it can not be accomplished without listening to the Holy Spirit and your guardian angel. Listen and respond!
