Willing to Be Used

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert (Acts 8:26).

Stoning of Stephen

Philip lived during the time of severe Christian persecution that came after Stephen was martyred. Conditions had gotten so bad in Jerusalem that many Christians left the city. Philip went to Samaria, but he hadn’t gone into hiding. He still preached of Jesus, and his ministry was going strong. When the angel appeared to Philip and told him to go to Gaza, he didn’t hesitate. He went. Philip didn’t feel he had to understand what God wanted. He just had to obey. He dropped whatever he was doing, whatever plans he had for his ministry, and went to do God’s bidding. What some might have seen as an interruption, Philip saw as an opportunity. He had no idea what awaited. He was just following God one step at a time.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candance queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship (Acts 8:27).

What he found was a slow-moving chariot meandering up the road with an African man reading inside. Apparently, this Ethiopian official had become fascinated with the Jewish religion and had taken a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to learn more. He was a God-fearing Gentile, but he hadn't fully converted because he didn’t understand. The eunuch was reading in the book of Isaiah about the prophecy of the Messiah. Philip seizes the opportunity and asks him if he understands what he is reading. He indicated he didn’t and invited Philip into his chariot where the disciple began explaining about Jesus and shared the gospel, which the Ethiopian eagerly accepted.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him (Acts 8:30-31).

God honors our obedience and willingness and will open doors for us. When our hearts are prepared under His Lordship, He will give us the words to say when we need them. The Ethiopian accepted Christ in faith. Who knows how many people he led to the Lord when he got home or how they may have reached out to others? And it all started with one man’s obedience to go. God also sends opportunities our way. Many people around us have questions about life, the Bible, and a relationship with God. They need someone to explain. Trust in God’s Word to have the power and His Spirit to guide us. We shouldn't rely on ourselves.

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