Passage of the Day:
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] 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, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”[b] 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 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?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both 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 suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea, Acts 8:26-40.
Reflection:
There are some mornings when I wake up when I don’t feel like doing anything. Yet, I turn off my alarm and roll out of bed to begin another day on earth. In the days of one Old Testament prophet, God was searching for a willing participant, Ezekiel 22:30. Unfortunately, no one came forward to fill this void. When it comes to behavior, you have to possess a will deep down inside. If this desire is absent, you’ll be like a child who doesn’t care or simply doesn’t what to do what their parents want.
Prayerful Action:
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8
Building Up Bible Believing Behavior:
When Philip got up on the day that Luke records in today’s featured passage, he immediately responds to an angel of the Lord. Philip doesn’t use the excuse, “but I already have plans.” Nor does Philip hesitate or question this calling. Rather, Philip listens and obeys by walking south on a desert road. As a willing participant, Philip’s eyes were wide open, diligently searching for an opportunity to be a vessel of God. When this chance to serve was recognized, Philip not only kept in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, but began running with the Spirit. This is the model for being a willing participant.
Song of the Day:
The more that Christians begin their days praying to become a willing participant, God will open your eyes to opportunities that you previously passed by without a thought. Keep in step with the Holy Spirit so that Christian Behaviors will be lived out in the month of May.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 