Acts 8 v.39
“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.”
In difficult times like these it is good to have something to make us happy. Perhaps you like to listen to comedians doing stand-up comedy, maybe you like to watch a funny programme on TV for a bit of light relief or perhaps you like to get lost in a good book or movie. The only problem is that when we finish, we have to come back to normality and realise that things haven’t changed.
But in today’s verse we read of someone who rejoiced, their happiness was dependent on having a good laugh or getting lost in a book, instead it was a deep seated joy he experienced because his life had changed. And what had changed his life?
He had been reading from Isaiah 53 but he didn’t understand it. So a Christian called Philip took time to explain to him the good news about Jesus. When the man, who was an important Ethiopian, heard the good news he was converted and baptised and he went on his way back to Ethiopia rejoicing.
It might seem strange to people that knowing about Jesus and trusting in him would make someone happy, but Jesus does make us more than happy, he gives us a deep joy that lasts no matter what circumstances we face. When we realise that he suffered for us, when we realise that he died on the cross for our sins, when we realised that by faith in him we can be united to him and have a great hope, is it any wonder we can rejoice in all he has done for us?
You might not think there is much to make you glad at the moment but the good news is that knowing Jesus’ great salvation can make us glad, so do you trust in him so like the Ethiopian you can be filled with joy because everything else will never bring us the lasting joy that knowing Jesus does.
Prayer points
 Give thanks for Jesus and all he has done for us.
 Pray that many would know the joy of following Jesus.
 Pray that many would find hope in Christ.

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