Monday, December 22, 2008

the truth

just spent two weeks in a beautiful North African country. the terrain is similar to that of Denver, mountainous and dry. the people are beautiful with an interesting history.

religion is a major part of their lives. traditional Christianity is what they worship. lost in the tradition of works. lost in the inability to understand the gift God has given us.

like Philip, be willing to explain the truth of Christ's saving Grace to those who don't understand.

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road
—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch,
an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the
book of Isaiah the prophet.

29The Spirit told Philip,
"Go to that chariot and stay near it."

30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man
reading Isaiah the prophet.
"Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

31"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?"
So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth."

34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet
talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with
that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water
and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"

38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

39When they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,
and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 8:26-40

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