Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 8:26-31 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."  So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians...  The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."  Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.  "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Not only was Philip one who preached the gospel, he also obeyed the guidance by the Holy Spirit.  God's guidance has a special characteristic in that He often guides us step by step.  In the beginning, God only asked Philip to go south, and when he saw the eunuch God didn't tell him what to say to the eunuch, but only asked him to approach the chariot. God always guides us one step at a time, but we often like to ask: God, why don't you just show us the outcome?  Actually, if God showed us the complete path before us, perhaps you won't be able to accept it.  Think about Joseph in the Old Testament time: if God had shown him the path of his entire life, that he will be sold by his brothers to become slave in Egypt, and then wrongfully accused and imprisoned, forsaken by his friends....  Before he hears his whole life story, he won't ever consider becoming in charge of Egypt, not even the king of Egypt!  Thank God because He knows our weakness, so He always guides as step by step, give us fresh strength everyday to face new challenges. The guidance of God is also the process how He shapes us.  When I decided to become a full-time minister, I often asked by God didn't call me to serve Him earlier?  Why did I have to take the long detour of completing college, serving in the army, coming to the US to study meteorology, working in the area of meteorology in the Washington DC and finally was called to serve?  God really had His will; if I didn't have my life experience, it would be hard for me to understand the pressure and difficulties that brothers and sisters face while living in the U.S.  May God help us to put our lives to His hands, following the good example that Philip showed us in this passage.  He simply obeyed the Lord when he was told to go to Gaza or to get closer to the chariot.  Let us welcome the Holy Spirit and obey His guidance in our daily life!   Pray with Pastor Tong Liu        Lord, we thank you because you are willing to guide us in our daily lives.  May the Lord give us sufficient courage, so that we may learn to obey your guidance in our lives each and every day.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!