The Road to Gaza, a desert road
Philip obeyed the Lord; he went south of Jerusalem on a desert road leading to Gaza.
There he saw a chariot with a man from Ethiopia reading aloud. What was he reading? He was reading the prophet Isaiah and he did not understand the meaning of those words. Philip heard him and asked him a question, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30)
The Ethiopian eunuch didn’t understand and he asked Philip to join him in the chariot. Philip then explained that Isaiah was talking about the Messiah. And that Messiah is Jesus who fulfilled that prophecy. Jesus had died for the Ethiopian’s sins (and by the way, He also died for your sins – that news is life changing).
More Good News? Jesus was resurrected from the grave by the power of God. He has a physical body… today. He is in heaven… today. He is physically coming again… one day.
Philip taught that important court official of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:35
The eunuch was excited, he saw some water (perhaps a pond or lake or a stream) alongside the road. He asked Philip, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36)
What was Philip’s response? “‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” (Acts 8:37)
The chariot was stopped, the two men got down, went into the water and Philip baptized the eunuch.
(NASB) Acts 8:39-40 “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.”
On what road is the Lord leading you? Perhaps He has one person He wants you to mentor, to tell of Christ, to be a godly example. God’s word is to be proclaimed. We are to be obedient and faithful, the results are up to God.
You and I are to be committed to doing what God calls us to do. Perhaps where you work, God is not known. But you know Him, follower of Christ. Faithfully pray for your co-workers. Faithfully be a godly example even when they are negative. By your responses others will be pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The road to Gaza was a desert road. There was a man who was seeking to understand Scripture on that desert road and after Philip explained the Scripture, he believed that “Jesus is the Son of God.” There was water available for the eunuch to be immersed in baptism on that desert road, amazing isn’t it?
~ Take it to heart ~
The road you are traveling may seem to be a desert road, but God will provide what you need to tell others of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A desert road may not be a deserted road!