There is a passage in the book of Acts that has always resonated with me, well…. ever since I came to know the Lord anyway

26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”

30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” - Acts 8

This passage from Acts 8:26-30 offers several rich insights and themes for reflection:

1. Divine Guidance

• The angel of the Lord instructs Philip to go to a specific place (v. 26).
  • God actively directs His people
    • often calling them to unexpected or unfamiliar paths.
  • The road to Gaza was a remote desert area,
    • yet it became the setting for a divine appointment.
• God works through His Spirit to orchestrate encounters for His purposes.

2. Obedience and Availability

• Philip’s immediate response to God’s instructions is a powerful example of obedience.
  • He does not question or delay but rises and goes (v. 27).
  • This reflects a heart willing to follow God’s leading,
    • even without knowing the full picture.
• His readiness positions him to be part of a pivotal moment in the Ethiopian eunuch’s spiritual journey.

This passage has always made me want to be so much like Phillip. He did not hesitate when the Lord told him what to do. So much so that he charged toward a chariot without any knowledge of what might happen next…. His obedience allowed him to be a part, however small, of an amazing moment.

What happened next changed the Ethiopian man’s life forever, and I am certain it had an affect on Phillip as well….

30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:

He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.

34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.

36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?”  38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. - Acts 8

As busy people, we always seem to be “running” somewhere ….

Maybe 2025 is the year where we need to start running toward the right things….. I challenged my church last Sunday to be INTENTIONAL in 2025…. INTENTIONAL in telling the Gospel and INTENTIONAL in sending others to do the same.

Will we be Intentional tellers and senders of the Gospel in 2025?

Phillip was able to be witness to the Lord saving this man. His eternity was changed forever. Whatever else we do in this life, NOTHING could be more important than sharing the gospel. The chances of you having to chase down a chariot to do so are slim, but they are not zero 😉

God bless you, get out there and be intentional!

Pastor John

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