Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 8:26-28
26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Commentary:
8:26–27 Gaza was the last watering place before the desert on the road from Jerusalem to Egypt. Ethiopia was the ancient Nubian Kingdom, south of Aswan on the Nile. The designation eunuch could have been a mere title (for a “treasurer” or trusted royal servant), or could refer to his having been emasculated. Since he had been to Jerusalem to worship, the eunuch was probably a “God-fearer,” a Gentile who worshiped Israel’s God but had not become a full convert (“proselyte”). As a eunuch, he would have been barred from the inner courts of the temple, which makes his reading “the prophet Isaiah” (v. 28) especially significant. Isaiah held out the promise that God would grant devout eunuchs a heritage “better than sons and daughters” (Isa. 56:3–5).
Questions:
- In Acts 8, God speaks to Philip and tells him to leave Samaria and go out to this desert road. If you recall, God has just done an incredible work in Samaria. Philip has an instrumental role in a thriving ministry there, and God asks him to leave right in the middle of it in order to reach one man; an Ethiopian eunuch. This is an interesting shift... God has gone from reaching multitudes of people at once to pursuing one individual person. This shows us the heart of God. There is tremendous value in His eyes for just one soul. Sometimes God can feel distant and impersonal, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Are you ever tempted to think this way? When you feel God is distant, does that say more about His heart or yours? How do you maintain intimacy with Him and remind yourself He's closer than you can imagine?
- In Luke 15, Jesus talks about how a good shepherd will leave 99 of his sheep in order to go after the one that is lost. God's heart is for the ONE. Over 100 billion people have walked this earth, and He knows every single one of them by name. And He knows you. He knows your name, He knows you better than you know yourself. And He's after you. He wants what is best for you. How humbling is it to know the God of the universe is so crazy about you and loves you so much? What should our response to this realization be?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would remember God's heart is for the ONE.
- That you would be humbled by His love today.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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