Friday, August 30, 2013
Acts 8:30–31, 35 (ESV) So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him ... Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
ASK ... SO THEY MAY RECEIVE
Famous last words: "Well, I assumed that ..." There are times when we would prefer to assume something is true rather than actually ask and find out. It's easy to assume, for example, that because my neighbor says he "believes in god" that that means he is a Christian. It's easy to assume. It's much more difficult and sometimes uncomfortable to actually ask.
Phillip could have assumed that the Ethiopian eunuch understood what He was reading, but the Spirit of God moved him to ask rather than assume. The same Spirit opened the door and gave him both the opportunity and the words to speak. Thus did the Ethiopian find both clarity and salvation in the Gospel of Christ.
Let's not assume that our children understand what they hear proclaimed to them in worship, Sunday School, and instruction classes. May God help us to be personally involved and to ask direct questions. When we ask questions and help them to understand, these vital truths are confirmed and cemented into their hearts and minds. Now this will require that we be personally involved and aware of the words and promises of our God. When the questions are difficult and you don't know what to say, ask your pastor.
Let's make sure, above all, that children know Jesus by faith and are assured that He knows them.
