Acts 8.30-31

Having been directed by God to be in the right place at the right time and spoken to by the Spirit to “Go over and join this chariot“, Philip now asks a very genuine question of the Ethiopian:

“Do you understand what you’re reading?”

The man replied, “How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?”

So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

(Acts 8.30-31, NET) 

Often when we come to the Bible to read God’s Word there is much separation; cultural, geographic, linguistic, historical…It is a very normal and natural thing to wonder “How in the world can I understand this unless someone guides me?“. 

In His great love for His church God has given to them those who are gifted in teaching (Ephesians 4.10-13) in order that everyone who comes to the Word may have a proper understanding of what is happening, why, and what it means for them living here and now. 

It’s ok to ask some to help you understand the Bible. It’s a collection of Divinely inspired ancient texts written thousands of years ago from real people to other real people, groups of people that we aren’t part of. There is always going to be an initial separation between you and the message of Scripture and nobody just knows what it’s all about without work and effort.

The effort, though, is alway worth it. As we come to know more about Scripture we see the truth of John 5.39 coming to life before our eyes, that it all testifies to the person and work of Jesus. When we see Scripture like this, we begin to see the inexhaustible well of God’s grace, the amazing redemption and rescue from sin on offer through Jesus, and we are established and confirmed in our faith in Him all the more. 

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