“How can I understand unless someone explains this to me?”
Have you ever asked that question?
I think back to seventh grade and the first time I saw letters where numbers should
Algebra. Ugh.
Because I was homeschooled, I could work ahead in my textbooks before my mother would have the chance to teach me the new concepts.
The moment I saw “a + b = c”, I pumped the brakes.
I thought, “Letters? Do what? That has to be a typo.”
After a quick turn through the next 100 pages, I saw that this was no typo.
I had no idea what I was looking at.
What I needed was someone to show me the way. What I needed was someone to explain to me what was going on.
In the book of Acts, we see Philip helping a man in a similar situation.
Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples, was traveling from Jerusalem and came upon a man sitting in his chariot reading from the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
He asks the man, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The man answers him, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”
This man was reading Isaiah 53:7-8.
“He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth. Unjustly condemned, He was led away. No one cared that He died without descendants, that His life was cut short in midstream. But He was struck down for the rebellion of my people.” (Isaiah 53:7-8)
Isaiah was clearly foreshadowing the death of Jesus on the cross for all of mankind’s sin.
The man asked Philip to explain this prophecy.
I love the way it describes what Philip does in Acts 8:35, “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news of Jesus.”
Did you read that—GOOD NEWS!
How quick are we to share the everyday life good news?
We love sharing good news! Who doesn’t?
We share about our promotions, straight A’s, and Sonic’s half-price milkshakes after 8 pm. (HA!)
There is no coincidence that our desire to tell good news coincides with other’s desire to hear good news.
We live in a lost and broken world with hurting people searching for something. We search for anything to fill the emptiness inside.
Do you remember that same feeling before you believed the Gospel? I know I do.
Carl F. H. Henry said, “The Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”
So, what would the world we live in look like if every Christ–follower made the time to take advantage of the existing opportunities to share the good news with those they know and encounter like Philip?
Please join me in praying that we will have eyes to see and ears to hear God’s opportunities for us to share His Good News and trust in the Holy Spirit’s ability to work through us as we share the Good News of Christ. This week trust the Lord to open opportunities for you to share the Good News and seize them. Share the Good News with someone you know—co-worker, family member, neighbor, mailman, whoever!