Scripture: Acts 8.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Acts 8:30-31 (NLT)     

30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

We may sometimes see a person reading the Word of God and we might step aside assuming that they are a Christian and therefore understand what they are reading. Philip had a different approach. He asked the Ethiopian man if he understood what he was reading. Now, because I believe that Philip was truly lead by the Holy Spirit to do this, I am not advocating that we should automatically walk up to everyone we see reading the Word and ask questions similar to what Philip posed. What I do believe is, that we should be so filled with the Word, and our faith in God so fresh and real that we would not back down when we see someone struggling, or if asked such a question like was posed to Philip. Whatever we do should be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but I don’t believe that God would want us to delay responding because we feel inadequate. I believe that when we submit to working for God, explaining His Word, or teaching someone about the Lord, we will receive the knowledge, power and wisdom necessary to respond, from the Holy Spirit. We may not be able to explain something as good as a learned professor or preacher, but God can use any of us to speak through us and get to the heart of the individual asking. Too often I believe we back off trying to help because we feel inadequate. The truth is that we are inadequate, but friend let me remind you that the One that resides inside each of us is very adequate! Putting off responding could lead to frustration for the prospect, questioning of our faith, and possibly losing the opportunity to lead someone to the Lord when God is dealing with them. Many times we use the excuse that we need to get our pastor out to visit with the individual and properly respond to the questions, but if we are the person God placed in the situation at that particular time, then obviously He is prepared to work through us, and I truly believe that He is more than qualified to work through any of us that claim Him as Lord of our lives. Our words (those of the Holy Spirit working in us) could very well be what’s needed by the individual to convince him of his need for a Savior. I did a study at one time that reminded me that because an unsaved person is asking about Jesus or His Word, is evidence that the Lord is working on him already. So let’s not give up the opportunity to help anyone in need of knowing our Lord!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, often I may feel inadequate and totally unqualified to help someone in need, but You have reminded me this morning that this is quite normal. My faith and trust and wisdom must come from You. In fact, it is not until I realize that I don’t know the answers that I truly depend on You. I pray that there will be opportunities today where I may realize that someone that crosses my path is desperately in need of instruction, and I pray that with Your power, wisdom and boldness, I will gladly come alongside them and give necessary instruction. The end is nearing and there is no time for delay, please always help me to grasp the urgency of the hour when such opportunities present themselves to me.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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