FRIDAY April 14, 2023
Understanding the Scriptures
So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
Acts 8:30-33
The Ethiopian man was reading the Word of God––searching for understanding. The Holy Spirit moved Philip from Samaria all the way into a desert place, right where the Ethiopian man’s chariot was! He must have been praying, and the Lord answered his prayer through sending Phillip to him! Imagine that! Coincidence? I do not think so. The Lord knew this man was seeking Him.
The man was spiritually hungry, seeking the knowledge of the truth. God saw his heart. Who was going to interpret the Scriptures for him? Philip was taken so he could be a witness to him, so he could come to know Christ. Philip sat right alongside the man in his chariot!
Who was Isaiah speaking about? He was speaking about Jesus Christ, but the Ethiopian man was ignorant. He had no knowledge or understanding of whom Isaiah spoke.
Do you lack understanding when reading the Scriptures? God has given us pastors to teach His Word. They diligently study the Word of truth so they can simply teach the Scriptures to the people in the congregation: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
If you lack comprehending the Scriptures, go to church. Listen as the Word of God is taught, and God will open your understanding.
God wants you to understand the Word of God. The Bible is not a mystery book. It's not a book of philosophy. It's a book of truth that explains the attitude and heart of almighty God.
~Charles Stanley~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
