Philip felt the guidance of God to go to a specific place on a specific road from Jerusalem to Gaza.  Along the way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians.  This man had gone to Jerusalem to seek the true God. Because he was a eunuch, he was considered unworthy.  Perhaps he was treated differently because of his race.  I’m sure a man of his standing in his own country was shocked at the Jewish authorities prejudice against him. 
 
Philip was one of the seven elected to do ministry in the early church.  After the stoning of Stephen, Philip had gone to Samaria.  He became known as “Philip the Evangelist” because of his hearing of God’s Spirit and baptizing this Ethiopian man.  In Samaria, Philip healed the sick and converted many to Christianity.  Philip was moved by the suffering, humiliation and injustice at the way the Ethiopian was treated by the Jewish authorities.
 
As this Ethiopian was reading from the prophet Isaiah, the spirit of God called Philip, “…to go to the chariot and stand near it.”  Which, of course, Philip did.    Philip asked the Ethiopian, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  The Ethiopian responded, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”  He invited Philip into his chariot and Philip explained the words from the prophet Isaiah.  He then told him the Good News about Jesus Christ.  While traveling down the road, they saw a body of water.  The eunuch asked, “Look, here is water.  Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”  And Philip baptized him.
 
In this story, we see Philip being responsive to God and moved by the need of this Ethiopian.  Philip simply did as God said.  Perhaps God has said to you to be open to talking to someone that you know or with whom you are acquainted.  Perhaps it will happen as it did to Philip - you will have no notice of your call to action to speak.  It is important that we anticipate sharing our faith with others.
 
The Jewish authorities were appalled at the very presence of the eunuch when he came seeking God.  The eunuch could not believe that he was outside the pale of acceptance.  What he found in his encounter with Philip was value and acceptance.  Every human being is valued by God.  Who are we to think that someone is not good enough to befriend?
 
As the baptism waters closed over this man’s head, I wonder…did the angels sing?  I think they did.  And I believe this Ethiopian returned to his home with a newfound joy.  I wonder…did he share his faith with his fellow countrymen?  Christianity is a chain - one person linked to the next, one generation linked after the other.  If we, personally, don’t do our part, will the chain be permanently broken?  What Philip did was not so difficult.  He simply discussed the Scriptures and his faith with the man from Ethiopia.  The Scripture from Isaiah predicts that One would be humiliated and deprived of justice.  Obviously, this text speaks of Jesus.  Did it also speak to the Ethiopian’s heart?  The Jewish authorities denied someone faith.  Philip, who had done such great work in Samaria, continued down the road from Gaza to Jerusalem.  Perhaps when we share our faith on the road of our lives, the journey continues.
 
Prayer:  Dear Lord, help us to share our faith.  Amen.