Growing in God

 

Philip asked the Ethiopian, 

“Do you understand what you're reading?” 

He replied,“ How can I,

unless someone guides me?” 

Acts 8:30-31 

I think these short sketches show the God of Abraham planting a desire for growing in God's love without boundaries

  

I had questions while reading the novel, No Heaven for Good Boys. Questions like, Who are talibe? What is a daara? What is a marabout? 

Knowing no one from Senegal, I googled "talibe". They are students, ages 6 to 15, sent to a daara (school) to memorize the Quran taught by a marabout (teacher of Quaran). 

A dangerous part of the experience includes begging in city streets for rice, sugar cubes, and money to cover the needs of the daara and marabout. Failure to meet goals often results in punishment.

In Philips' story, an Ethiopian eunuch, a passenger in a chariot, is reading Isaiah 53:7-8. He is wealthy, politically powerful, scripture-reading, and God-worshiping.

An angel sends Philp to the Gaza road and the Spirit directs him to join a chariot. Obeying the Spirit, Philip catches up to it and asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 

The Ethiopian says, "How can I unless someone guides me." Philip climbs into the chariot, sit beside him for Bible study and interprets the scripture because there is more than one "correct" meaning.

My responsibility as Pastor meant teaching a Confirmation class. I met with high school students teaching them by using the Apostle's Creed and the Scriptures. This was intended to enrich their understanding of their baptism vows. The conclusion of the class was renewing their baptism vows before the congregation. 

Imagine this; an exploited talibe boy, a marginalized Ethiopian eunuch with Philip, a confirmation class. Three different teaching/learning experiences in three different cultures with the purpose of growing in the love and knowledge of God.

Think about this during the week: How is God growing you in your love and knowledge of God?