This morning in our series ‘The Miraculous & The Mundane’, we looked at Philip’s remarkable encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). Here, we see how an angel of the Lord directs Philip to a specific road and a specific chariot and how after this divine encounter, which leads to the salvation and baptism of this important official in the Ethiopian Treasury, God takes him away to continue ministry elsewhere.
It seems that the God who made the world by speaking the word wants to be in partnership with people, involving us in His work and speaking directly to us in various ways. It takes time and practice to discern the voice of the Shepherd, but Philip shows us what happens we are prepared to let God interrupt us. Miracles happen when we allow God access to our everyday lives!
But for all that God worked in clearly supernatural ways, Philip’s role was simply to explain the Scriptures and introduce the man to Jesus. There is nothing particularly spectacular about this; we should all be reading the Bible on a daily basis and letting its truths inform us and direct us, so that when an opportunity comes our way, we are ready. Peter says, ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.’ (1 Pet 3:15) We need to be ready and willing to give our testimony, praying for opportunities to explain the hope we have and living in such a way that others are attracted to God through our lives.
This incident with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch shows us how the miraculous works alongside the mundane and how God uses ordinary people to do His work. Once again, we see how privileged we are to be called co-workers in God’s service! (1 Cor 3:9) All that is required to be involved in the miraculous is a willing heart, listening ears and obedience. So often, we look at stories like this one and feel that nothing this specific or spectacular will ever happen to us. But as we wait before the Lord, He will speak to us, guide us, lead us, direct us and bring about God-encounters which have eternal significance.
