It has been a long time since I last posted for various reasons, but here I am. If you're still set up to check in on my blog thanks for your perseverance! I have been reflecting on a passage and I thought I'd share some of my thoughts.
It is the passage from Acts when Philips meets the Ethiopian Eunuch. You can find the passage here.
At the heart of this story for me is the eunuch's question to Philip,
"What is to prevent me from being baptised?"
This question is at the heart of the passage because the eunuch is returning home from Jerusalem unsatisfied. He is reading but can't understand. He needs someone to help him. Philip, guided to be there by the Holy Spirit, runs up alongside. He was a powerful man but his power couldn't gain him entry to the temple. The reason, he was a eunuch! So Philips meets him on the desert road returning a rejected and dejected man.
It is this encounter that enable the eunuch to embrace God, because of Jesus, and ask his question about baptism.
As a Christian I find that this passage confronts me with some difficult questions. The first is: am I listening to God? It was the Holy Spirit who guides Philip to be in the right place at the right time. Am I pausing in the midst of my schedules to listen to God?
I know in my own daily life I can often find myself running around and calling out a quick prayer of 'here I am God.' When really I need to stop and listen for God's 'Here I am Robert!' As we start to reflect on this passage a good place to begin is to ask yourself the question, "What's stopping me?" What is getting in the way of you listening to God?
There is more I want to say on this passage but perhaps this is enough for now. I'd love to hear back from you so let me know you're thoughts.
Yours in Christ,
Robert+
