²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] 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, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Acts 8:26-29
 
Life is a series of first steps.  Walking.  Riding a bicycle.  Learning to drive.  Falling in love.  Starting a family.  Beginning a career.  In every instance there is a first step – an initial movement in a specific direction.  Fun fact… the song “First Steps” by Jim Brickman is the song Marea walked down the aisle to at our wedding twenty years ago. 
 
An angel of the Lord appeared to Phillip and said “Go…”  There’s not any explanation, there’s not any frame of reference.  And Phillip obeys.  The first step…
 
A man was reading Scripture.  He had everything, a trusted official, money and power, but he felt like he was still missing something.  He was returning from worship.  “Get in the chariot.”  Another first step.
 
And instead of offering his expertise on the subject he asks the Eunuch what he knows.  “What’s your story?  Don you know what you’re reading?”  The eunuch was searching (another first step) but he needed some insight.  God could have revealed the message in any way He chose but here were two men, completely different in every way imaginable, discussing the Suffering Servant in Isaiah, Jesus Christ.
 
I love the eunuch’s response to Phillip’s words…  “what prevents me from being baptized.”  With a question like that the answer is “nothing.”  Another first step.
 
Every first step leads to another.  And as we move closer to the Lord, we find ourselves doing more than we can ever have imagined.  And as Phillip is whisked away by the Spirit, the eunuch heads home rejoicing, perhaps the first Christian in his country, anxious to share the story of Jesus with everyone he knows.  A first step is an initial movement in a specific direction…  What is your first step today?
 
Can’t wait to worship with you this weekend!
We are Central… and we’re in this TOGETHER! 
SOLI DEO GLORIA
-F