Beauty surrounds us, but we usually need to be walking in a garden to know it - Rumi
The other day in the supermarket I noticed a young child in a shopping trolley completely absorbed in the task of trying to open the child proof lid of a bottle of water. He couldn’t because no one had explained to him how to do it, but that did not stop him trying.
I was reminded of the meeting between Philip and the court official (Acts 8:27-39). You will recall that the Ethiopian official was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah. He was obviously a well educated man who had probably picked up the writing in Jerusalem from whence he was returning home. However, he could not understand its meaning until Philip explained, not only the passage that concerned the man, but also told him the good news about Jesus. Now that he understood, the official asked to be baptised after which he went on his way rejoicing. In the same way once someone has shown the child how to open this child proof lid he too will rejoice for no bottle will be safe from him! Likewise, we who have been baptised have received something that is both beautiful and rich; the good news that Philip imparted to the official. However, there are still many people in the world who have never heard or will hear of Jesus. They are born, live their lives, and die without having been exposed to Jesus and his words. As Christians it is our duty to show God’s unconditional love to the world through our lives and actions. Every day we hear or read about terrible events happening in the world, but as 1 John 3:17-19 says: “If you have material possessions and see another in need but have no pity, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence.” This then is our challenge that the world should come to know Christ through us. A challenge indeed but remember that faith can move mountains and in any case rest assured He is with us always. Thanks be to God
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AuthorI am an Authorised Local Preacher in an Anglo Catholic parish church, in the Diocese of Essex UK Archives
February 2022
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