He knew that the culture and worship of pagan gods were not right. It did not provide peace or joy. It did not “reach” or stir up others for a zeal that could be stirred for a lifetime and beyond.
So, he took it upon himself to draw as near as he could to God. He traveled a far distance and sat outside of the temple thinking that was as close as he could get.
He loaded up in his chariot to travel that far distance back again to his homeland and meets a man named Phillip on the road. He read the scriptures but just was not sure what they mean. Phillip helps him with that.
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not His mouth. In His humiliation, His justice was taken away. And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
Who was that? Who was that person or prophet that was being spoken about there? The eunuch did not know.
And then… Phillip preached Jesus to him (Acts 8:35).
Imagine the joy felt in that man at that point. We see a glimpse of it when the chariot abruptly stops because He wants to be baptized. To know–he no longer had to be separated from God.
And what did the eunuch do?
“…he went on his way rejoicing…” (Acts 8:39)
Could that be said about you?
Do you live your life with JOY like the eunuch did after he realized the gift that had been given to him through the blood of Jesus Christ?
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking until Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
You have been set out on a journey. The Hebrews writer here calls it a race. Where are you looking? Are you looking to Jesus or your circumstances now? He is the author and finisher of our faith.
While here, Jesus endured trouble. He endured persecution. He endured betrayal. He endured temptation.
While here, you may endure being entangled in sin. He has taken that sin for you. Give it to Him. Let Him untangle the vine wrapped around you.
With JOY Jesus took on the cross. He didn’t look at “the now”. This wasn’t happiness. There was more. He looked at the finish line. That finish line for Him was sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.
The finish line for you—because of Him, a home we have with Him in heaven.
C.S. Lewis writes,
“The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance.”
Do you live with the delight in God David does in the book of Psalms?
The eunuch did–he went on rejoicing. He no longer had to be cut off from the presence of God. He could be joyful in prayer. He would no longer be an outcast. (Isaiah 56).
And he could bring it to his homeland. He could bring this JOY to those he loved dearly.
Jesus is our JOY (John 15:11). He wants you to have it. Claim it. Bring it to others.
Anchored to Him,
Leigh Ann
