Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”  And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
—Acts 8:26-40

~~~~~

When The Detour Is the Plan
By Jennifer Kane

The car hums steady
and my Father has His hands on the wheel.
I watch the horizon stretch,
roads I would never have chosen—
a desert highway,
lonely,
quiet.

I wonder why He left the busy city,
the fruitful fields,
the laughter of the crowd.
But He knows.
He always knows.

A chariot waits on the roadside,
a soul searching,
eyes fixed on words he cannot yet grasp.
The Spirit whispers: Go near.
So I step from the passenger seat,
heart racing,
feet moving faster than my fear.

A simple question—
“Do you understand?”—
and the door opens wide.
Isaiah’s scroll becomes a map,
every line pointing
to Jesus.

The journey shifts.
This road was not wasted.
Water glimmers beside the path,
and with it,
a new beginning.
The traveler rises,
washed,
rejoicing.

My Father calls me back,
the road stretches on,
another city waits,
another door will open.

And I learn,
again and again,
that every detour is divine,
every encounter
is a chance to hand someone else the map,
to let them begin
their own road trip with Him.

~~~~~

Scripture: Acts 8:26–40

Have you ever packed for a road trip, not knowing exactly what the journey will hold? The Holy Spirit often leads us this way. Philip was in the middle of a thriving ministry in Samaria when God redirected him to a desert road. From a human perspective, that looked like a dead end. But with the Holy Spirit as the driver, no road is wasted.

The Spirit told Philip to go, and he went. Along that road he found an Ethiopian official—someone God had already been preparing. The man was reading Isaiah, searching for truth, and the Spirit positioned Philip right on time to explain the good news of Jesus.

On any road trip, opportunities pop up—scenic overlooks, small cafés, unexpected encounters. Likewise, when we travel with the Holy Spirit, He gives us open doors to share the gospel.

Philip listened—when the Spirit said, “Go near,” he didn’t hesitate.

Philip asked—his simple question, “Do you understand what you are reading?” opened the way.

Philip explained—beginning with Scripture, he pointed to Jesus.

Notice: Philip didn’t force the conversation; he simply stepped into the door God opened. The Ethiopian’s heart was ready, and his response was immediate—belief and baptism.

After the baptism, Philip was suddenly taken away, but the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing. Why? Because the gospel road trip isn’t about clinging to the messenger, but meeting the Savior. Philip continued preaching elsewhere, and the Ethiopian continued his new life in Christ.

When the Holy Spirit directs us, our job is not to map out every detail of the trip—it’s to stay ready, to listen, and to walk through the open doors God sets before us.

Am I willing to change direction when the Holy Spirit prompts me, even if it feels like leaving something “successful” behind?

Do I pray regularly for God to open doors to share the gospel, and do I notice them when they appear?

Who in my life may already be searching for God, waiting for someone like Philip to walk beside them and explain?

This week, pray each morning: “Lord, open a door for me today to share Your love. Help me recognize it, and give me boldness to step in.” Then, stay alert on your daily “road trip.” The Spirit may open a door through a co-worker’s question, a friend’s struggle, or even a stranger’s passing comment.

~~~~~

Holy Spirit, thank You for being my guide on the road of life. Help me to listen, obey, and see the doors You place before me. Give me courage to speak of Jesus, whether to one person or to many. Lead me to those who are searching, and may they go on their way rejoicing, just like the Ethiopian. Thank you Father, amen.

August 20 2025