Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” The man replied, “How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:29-31 NET
There are two men in this account. The first was Philip. Philip had been in Samaria, leading a successful evangelistic crusade. Many were coming to know the Lord. It was an exciting time. But amid this, God told Philip to leave and head out into the desert. And Philip obeyed God.
The second man was an Ethiopian official who had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home. This man did not know Jesus. But he was attracted to the God of Israel. He had even obtained a scroll of Isaiah and was trying to read it. He was what we would call a seeker.
And God honored his seeking and set up a divine appointment, arranging for Philip to meet him in the desert. When they met, Philip joined the man in his chariot, shared the good news about Jesus with him, and led him to the Lord.
How many people in our world today are like this Ethiopian man? They are seeking God but need someone to share the good news of Jesus with them. And how often might God set up a divine appointment, calling you (or me) to be their Philip? To be the one who will share God’s love with them and bring them into God’s family.
If the Spirit nudges you to go into the desert and climb into someone’s chariot, be willing to accept the invitation. Never be too busy or fearful to go, passing up the opportunity to be a Philip to the seekers God might bring into your life.
