Our Scriptural Calling

Acts 8:26-39 (Todays New International Version) 

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means "queen of the Ethiopians"). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth."

34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36-37 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

The journey of life is best walked together. Philip is on a journey. The Ethiopian is on a journey. While traveling on their journeys, their paths crossed and together they were forever changed.

Life is best lived in community. Community is the place where we find connections, friendship, love, acceptance, and companionship. An authentic community of faith is what we desire to be. A community of faith that draws people together, brings them into new relationships, and changes our lives forever.

We all are traveling on this Desert Road. As our paths meet, we can be forever different. The Ethiopian was searching for someone to show him what he was reading. He was looking for someone to walk alongside him.  Philip became his fellow traveler. I can imagine that as they rode down the Desert Road that they shared more then Christ’s story. I believe they shared their own stories. They talked about life, faith, hope and love.

Trying to live alone is like swimming against the water. We were created to be in relationships. To be human is to be connected. An authentic community of faith is one that journeys together, shares life together, and walks in Christ together. I pray that our journey together is filled with the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will be drawn closer to God through the Desert Road Fellowship community of faith. Life lived in community is lived to its fullest.