The heart of a disciple

Usually when I read the story about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, I focus mostly on Philip and how I want to be led by God’s Spirit the way Philip was.

But the Ethiopian’s heart really struck me today. He had the heart of a true disciple.

For one thing, he was teachable. He really wanted to learn. In today’s story, he was reading God’s word, but didn’t understand it. When Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading,” the Ethiopian could have tried to protect his pride and said, “Of course I do.”

But instead, he admitted his ignorance and asked for help.

In that way, he was very much like Jesus’ disciples. Many times, Jesus spoke in parables they didn’t understand, so they would come up to him later and say, “What did you mean? We don’t understand.”

How often do you do that? When you read something in the Bible you don’t understand, do you just shrug your shoulders and move on? Or do you ask for help? “What does this mean? I don’t understand.”

But a disciple doesn’t stop at just understanding. When he understands, he acts. And that’s what this Ethiopian did. When he understood the gospel and happened to see some water, he immediately asked, “Hey, why can’t I get baptized now?”

There was no hesitation in him. Instead, he quickly moved to obey.

Humility, teachablity, and a desire to obey. That’s the heart of a disciple.

How about you? Do you have the heart of a disciple?