Acts 8:25-40. Peter and John return to Jerusalem, preaching to other Samaritan towns as they go, but Philip is called by an angel to go on a desert road toward Gaza. On that road, returning to Ethiopia, is a eunuch minister of the Queen of Ethiopia, who is riding in a chariot and reading from the prophet Isaiah. The angel tells Phillip to join the Ethiopian, and Philip runs to him and hears him reading Isaiah. Philip asks him "Do you understand what you are reading?" Ethiopian responds "How can I, unless someone guides me?" He's reading the passage from Isaiah beginning with "As a sheep led to the slaughter ... so he opens not his mouth." He asks Philip if Isaiah was referring to himself or someone else. Starting with this passage, Philip tells Ethiopian the good news of Jesus Christ. The man stops his chariot at a body of water and asks Philip to baptize him. After they emerge from the water, Philip is caught away by the Spirit and the man sees him no more, but he continues on his way rejoicing. Philip, meanwhile, finds himself in as Azotus and preaches there, and in the other towns leading to Caesarea.

There's so much in this story to talk about! Philip is led by an angel to exactly where God wants him to be and he does exactly what God wants him to do. Then he is spirited away to another place where his mission is not as precise, but just as meaningful, as he preaches to all the towns. This is a fantastic example of how God makes sure we get where He wants us to be and, if we do His will, great things will happen! We do not have to go out of our way looking for our mission, God will make sure that it is very clear to us. However, there are times when our mission is not as obvious, then we must do as Philip did, do our duties and preach the Gospel, even if it is only in how we do our duties, in the places that we find ourselves. That, as well, will accomplish great things.

The other character in this story, the Ethiopian eunuch, is a wonderful example of how important we each are to God. He was important enough to God that God sent Philip directly to him at the exact right time that he needed him. There may have been a whole world to convert, but this one man is just as important as the entire Samaritan town Philip just left and the towns that he will be sent to after. As I struggle with my concern for many people, especially my children, who have left the faith, this is a wonderful lesson for me. I must learn to trust God more fully. God, and no one else, knows exactly the right moment when each person will be ready to hear Him, and when that moment comes, God will go out of His way, even to the point of sending an angel, to bring them a Philip when the time is right.