Devotionals from my Bible app: The Road to Scripture (Acts 8:35)

Here is the context of this post's focus verse:

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:34-39, NKJV

Note before sharing the devotional: the night before this popped into my Bible app for my daily reading, I woke up in the middle of the night to hear knocking. Mind you, not actual knocking; no one was actually knocking at my apartment's front door, or the window outside my bedroom. But I recognized that it was the sound of God knocking. Without waking my wife up, I quietly prayed: yes, Lord, I am here. I hear You knocking. I want to say yes. What do You want me to do?

Then the below devotional. Tell people about the good news of Jesus Christ. What stood out to me was about how Philip met the Ethiopian who was reading the book of Isaiah, and explained it to him. I have had an impression from the Lord at times in the past about preaching the Gospel to others. But aside from people I know well (believers or not), I have not shared about my faith very much. I still have a lot of room for growth in this area. I do blog about my faith almost every day (or at least, almost every post), and I do write music that I believe is directly inspired by the Lord Himself. And I try to make whatever I create honoring to Him, whether by words or by musical sounds.

The Road to Scripture


Every time we open God’s Word, we hold a treasure in our hands.


Scripture has led many generations of God's people—uncountable lives, times, and cultures have been influenced and transformed by God’s Word throughout history. God’s Word is a treasure—a treasure we have at our fingertips.


Sometimes, all the richness of God’s Word may come with a challenge. How can we comprehend the nuances, the context, all the many stories and teachings within God’s Word?


“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” Acts 8:35


In Acts 8, Philip, a follower of Jesus, crossed paths with an important official from Ethiopia who was reading the book of Isaiah, but struggling to understand it. Philip kindly helped him understand that the passage he was reading (Isaiah 53:7-8) was referring to Jesus and the death He would die for the sins of all. Philip shared the Gospel with this man, showing him how the prophecies of the past pointed to the Messiah, Jesus, and all He would do to save and redeem humanity.


Philip showed him that from the books of the law to the prophets, every part of Scripture points to our Savior. The man didn’t understand what he was reading, and God used that as an opportunity to open his eyes to the Gospel.


When you read the Bible, ask yourself: do I understand what I am reading?


When this man opened himself to understanding Scripture, he encountered Jesus and His love. He believed in him with his whole heart, and his spirit was transformed forever.


The transformation he experienced can be yours as well. Remember that:


1. The Bible tells the story of redemption through ‌Jesus and each book of the Bible points to Him in a beautiful way.


2. Jesus is alive and faithful to reveal himself to an open heart.


3. You aren’t alone on your Bible journey. Just like God sent Philip to teach the man from Ethiopia, he often puts people around us who we can learn from.


Today, take a moment to intentionally dive into Scripture. As you do so, seek Jesus in the text. Ask God what it says about His character. And ask yourself: how can this be applied to my life? How can it transform me?


At the end of today’s verse, the Bible says that the man from Ethiopia went on his way rejoicing. How can we not, when we realize how great God’s love is upon us?

Note after sharing the devotional: I think about where I was a few weeks ago. I'm just happy to actually know God is near, and that He's trying to reach me. I want to say yes!

Prayer: God, I am thankful that You are always by my side. I ask that You open my understanding of Your Word. Bring me brothers and sisters in Christ that I can learn from. Lead me to love the Bible and embrace the truth it offers. Build my trust in You as I fill my life with Your Word. In Jesus's name, Amen.