A Guiding Light
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. ~Acts 8:31
A guiding light is someone who is a powerful influence and inspiration in the life of another person. Many fathers and mothers are considered guiding lights in the spiritual and moral development of their children. Teachers are significant guiding lights in the lives of students. Many of us can point to one or more people who have been a great guiding light to us in our major decisions. Our passage this morning takes us to a very important moment in the life of a man who was an important government official of Ethiopia. He had gone on a mission to Jerusalem. While he was there, he was given a scroll containing all or part of the book of Isaiah. He was reading Isaiah 53, which is a major prophetic Scripture that foretells the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was trying to understand the significance of this great chapter. Philip was sent by the Holy Spirit to personally help this man find the light that would lead him to a saving faith.
There is the timing of a guiding light.
The timing of a guiding light is always critical. Philip was sent at the right moment to assist this Ethiopian man. If he was much later than when he had arrived, this man could have lost interest. As with most things, timing is always needful. When it comes to helping people to come to know the Lord as Savior, we can never be too early, but we could sometimes be too late. A guiding light must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit when it comes to having a powerful influence on someone else.
There is the touch of a guiding light.
The role of a guiding light is to touch the life of another person in a positive way. As a guiding light, we are trying to point the person whom we are sent to in the right direction. The Spirit of God told Philip, “Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” God did not want Philip trying to help this man from a distance. He wanted Philip to be right at this man’s side. To be an effective guiding light, we must take the risk of high-touching the life of other people. It means we need to get close. It means we need to involve ourselves. A guiding light is always one who touches lives!
There is the teaching of the guiding light.
Philip asked the man, "Understandest thou what thou readest?” The man replied, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Philip climbed into the chariot and began to expound the Scriptures to this man. A guiding light uses the Bible, which is the supreme means for a person to see his direction and need. A guiding light teaches by example and by exhortation. He desires that the person, whom he is sent to, readily receives teaching and counsel with a hungry and teachable spirit.
There is the turning point through the guiding light.
Philip helped this man understand that he was a sinner who needed to be saved by placing his faith in the death and resurrection of Christ for him. The man saw the light that he had been looking for! Philip showed him that he needed to be born again! The Ethiopian man exclaimed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!” Philip obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit and helped one man traveling through the desert find the Lord!
Ae you a guiding light in anyone’s life? Would you be willing for the Lord to use you to help influence another person in the things of God?
Have an illuminating God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Titus-Philemon