Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot. There was an unseen chance of serving a fellow-man down in a distant desert. Christ offered that chance to this Christian preacher. If a true believer's heart is alert, and his temper willing, the Lord will surely put him and keep him in the way of doing good. Only he must watch for heavenly providences to summon him, and instantly obey. I. NO EXERTION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TOO DIFFICULT, NO PROSPECT TOO DISCOURAGING, IF DOING GOOD IS OUR PURPOSE. Philip cheerfully started to go sixty or seventy miles just to save a single soul. "He arose and went." Sprang to meet the command. On the other hand the eunuch traversed more than half a continent to render God worship and find peace. II. SOMETIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT CHOOSES THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE UNLIKELIEST PLACES. Christ had saints in Caesar's household and Herod's family; so there was a seeker after truth in the court of Ethiopia. III. RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS ARE OF INESTIMABLE VALUE, AND OUGHT TO BE CHERISHED AS WE WOULD CHERISH LIFE ITSELF. The eunuch had been all the way, to Jerusalem without any helpful illumination of grace. Bat he will net give up without the blessing; so he searches the Scriptures on his way back, in spite of the tediousness of the journey. IV. IT IS WRONG TO BE FASTIDIOUS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES. Wherever souls are, in the desert or not, there let us try to save them. V. WE ARE NEVER TO DESPISE THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS. Philip, like our Lord at Sychar, had an audience of one-but he preached notwithstanding. VI. THE MEASURELESS WORTH OF A SINGLE CHANCE OF TELLING A FELLOW-BEING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. Philip had not met this man before: there is nothing to show that he met him again. A moment lost might have been the loss of a soul. VII. COURTESY IS NEVER LOST ON ANYBODY IN THIS UNEASY AND SOMEWHAT ROUGH WORLD. A churl would have told this stranger to move on and attend to his own concerns. VIII. NOTICE THE ETHIOPIAN'S HUMILITY. He was ignorant and acknowledged it. To be conscious of ignorance is the first step to knowledge. IX. WHOEVER DESIRES TO NO GOOD MUST FIND OUT WHERE THE SPIRIT IS LEANING HIM, AND SIMPLY AND HUMBLY FOLLOW ON. X. WATCH EVEN CHARIOTS PASSING BY. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.WEB: The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." |
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