PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS
IF YOU LIKE THIS POST PLEASE FOLLOW US, SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND GIVE US A LIKE.
Translate this site into your preferred language, look for our Google translator in our home page: diningwithjesus.net
Traduce este sitio en tu idioma preferido, busca nuestro traductor de Google en nuestra página de inicio ve a: diningwithjesus.net
Today, we are going to start a series of devotionals in which we will examine the lessons to be found in the interactions between the early church evangelist named Philip and a man from Africa.
In the passage that follows, we hear about this great interaction.
26 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 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.
(Acts 8:26-31 NIV11)
One Man
Previously, Philip had been used by God to preach the Gospel of Christ to large crowds during his ministry in Samaria. During that time, huge crowds of people gathered and responded to the message of the Gospel. And now, following this success, Philip finds himself being sent by the Holy Spirit to one man.
It is significant that the Lord would call such a great and powerful preacher as Philip to stop all that he was doing and focus on the spiritual needs of this one man. It is also significant that Philip proved himself to be willing to go to whomever the Lord sent him. Philip obeyed the Lord and did not let his ego and reputation get the better of him.
- Who is the Lord calling you to share the love of God with today?
- Are you willing to set aside your pride and be a humble servant of Christ in that one person’s life?
The Man
The man to whom the Lord called Philip was clearly a special and influential man. From our perspective, this man was used by God to initiate a wave of Christian faith across the continent of Africa that is still growing and winning souls today.
But in that day, this man was not someone that the religious people of the Jewish or Christian faith would have accepted as being worthy of their time and attention. But that the Lord that we are not the true judges of any person’s worth in the eyes of God.
This man received special attention from the Lord because God wanted his people to see that all who call on the name of the Lord are in fact welcome. By selecting this man to be the recipient of grace in this way, the Lord was communicating a message that would eventually be articulated perfectly by the Apostle Paul when he wrote:
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
(Galatians 3:26-29 NIV11)
To all
The grace of God extends to all, and all are invited to receive the gift of God’s love shown through the work and person of Jesus Christ.
- Have you ever thought that someone was “off-limits” to God’s grace?
- How has the Lord moved you to stop looking at what the world sees and to start seeing people through the eyes of our Savior?
Philip Listened
When the Lord brought Philip up to the chariot, Philip did something significant that we would do well to emulate. Philip listened first and spoke second.
When the Lord calls us to share with others, we need to think back to this chariot moment and fight against making assumptions about what others really need so that we can allow the Lord to show us how to be of greater help.
- How would this habit of listening and learning before we speak or act impact our witness for Christ with those God places into our path?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for sending your people into my life over and over again. Even when I did not want to hear your voice, you used your willing disciples to come alongside me in my travels and speak into my deepest needs. Help me to return the favor by prayerfully listening to those you give to me this week. Help me to be more like Philip!
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Worked at MTN. CHURCH
Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church
Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at Baylor University
Studied at Texas Tech University
Went to Castle Hills First Baptist
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Please Enter your email address in the box below.
Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.
DINING WITH JESUS PRODUCTIONS 