ALWAYS BE READY

 

ALWAYS BE READY

Acts 8:30-31 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah, so he asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?" The man replied, "How can I, when there is no one to instruct me?" And he begged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. NLT

There are several things that jump out at me from these verses. Philip was an early church leader, an evangelist. He went from town to town telling others about Jesus. Philip was tuned into opportunities to be a witness for the Lord. He was prompted by God to approach this eunuch who was in his chariot, reading from Isaiah. Philip didn't know him, but he understood that this man was searching for understanding about God.

It causes me to pause and wonder how attuned we are to the Lord. Are we aware of those about us who are searching for the Lord? Are we busy telling others about Him? Or, are we so caught up into living that we don't seize or take the opportunities the Lord gives us to be a witness for Him?

This man did not know the Lord, but he was looking in the right place; he was reading the Scriptures. There is no better place to look for the Lord than in His Word. We need to do it for ourselves, and we need to encourage others to do it as well. God does not hide himself in His Word; they testify of Him from beginning to end.

This man did not understand what he was reading. He was reading from Isaiah, and he invited Philip to sit down with him and help him to understand. It's not always that easy; in fact, it seldom is. But, Philip was ready. He was well-versed in the Scriptures and could explain to the eunuch what Isaiah had written. We discover that as Philip explained Isaiah's prophecy to him, that the eunuch believed and was baptized.

May the Lord help us to be equally well-versed in the Scriptures so that when we have the opportunity we too can readily be a witness for Him. Someone's soul may very well be in the balance. Study well the Scriptures so that you can be a workman that needs not be ashamed when someone searching for Jesus crosses your path.