Devotionals for April 6, 2022
Easter at TNLC is just around the corner! We have three services on Sunday, April 17 at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30am. Make plans to join us!
READ
ACTS 8:26-39
26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
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.
32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.
26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
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.
32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.
REFLECT
Philip had been commissioned by the Apostles in Acts 6 (see Monday’s devotional), and now he was a catalyst in sharing the Good News of Jesus. Notice how Philip eagerly followed the direction of the Holy Spirit. He proclaimed the gospel of Jesus to the Ethiopian treasurer, and he became a disciple of Jesus. This is how Christianity reached the continent of Africa. We should take note of the Ethiopian treasure’s excitement to be baptized and follow Jesus.
APPLY
Q: How did the Ethiopian treasurer respond to Philip’s preaching?
Q: What next step of obedience do you need to take? Could that step be baptism, repentance of a specific sin, or joining an Impact Team?
Q: Who can you invite to serve alongside you at TNLC or in the community?
Q: What next step of obedience do you need to take? Could that step be baptism, repentance of a specific sin, or joining an Impact Team?
Q: Who can you invite to serve alongside you at TNLC or in the community?
SING
“God of the Promise” by Elevation
PRAY
"Give us today our daily bread."
Heavenly Father, we trust in your kind provision. Give us grace to trust you and to lay aside worry. Help us to remember that we are called to generously and consistently share with others in need.
Heavenly Father, we trust in your kind provision. Give us grace to trust you and to lay aside worry. Help us to remember that we are called to generously and consistently share with others in need.