Acts 8:29-31
Alex Pettet, World Witness Director
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him [the Eunuch] 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. (Acts 8:29-31)
Most likely, the eunuch was a God fearing Gentile barred from the inner-courts of the temple. As such, the eunuch never felt quite whole. He would be confused and disappointed by Scriptures that pointed towards, but yet concealed, the full picture of Yahweh. Then, he was sent a seatmate and we know the rest of the story.
I find myself with lots of seatmates, usually on airplanes versus chariots. I have not encountered a non-Christian seatmate who was already reading the Scriptures, let alone Isaiah, but certainly I have had seatmates with lifelong disappointments like the eunuch. And, rather than giving them answers, I listen to their story with genuine interest and then share mine.
In 1996, before I left for the mission field, I attended a missionary training center where I learned how to share my “story” (i.e., testimony) in 5 minutes, 2 minutes, and then 30 seconds. Though I remember little else from the center, I still recall and use this today. As you know, people may not want to hear someone else’s story, but they are often willing to hear yours if you have taken the time to hear theirs. In the end, my story always ends with His story and His work on the cross.
We all have seatmates in life whether they are in an airplane, in a pew, at work, in a gym or hunting stand. Let’s hear their story, share ours and end with His.
Alex Pettet, World Witness Director
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him [the Eunuch] 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. (Acts 8:29-31)
Most likely, the eunuch was a God fearing Gentile barred from the inner-courts of the temple. As such, the eunuch never felt quite whole. He would be confused and disappointed by Scriptures that pointed towards, but yet concealed, the full picture of Yahweh. Then, he was sent a seatmate and we know the rest of the story.
I find myself with lots of seatmates, usually on airplanes versus chariots. I have not encountered a non-Christian seatmate who was already reading the Scriptures, let alone Isaiah, but certainly I have had seatmates with lifelong disappointments like the eunuch. And, rather than giving them answers, I listen to their story with genuine interest and then share mine.
In 1996, before I left for the mission field, I attended a missionary training center where I learned how to share my “story” (i.e., testimony) in 5 minutes, 2 minutes, and then 30 seconds. Though I remember little else from the center, I still recall and use this today. As you know, people may not want to hear someone else’s story, but they are often willing to hear yours if you have taken the time to hear theirs. In the end, my story always ends with His story and His work on the cross.
We all have seatmates in life whether they are in an airplane, in a pew, at work, in a gym or hunting stand. Let’s hear their story, share ours and end with His.
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