How can we apply the eunuch's humility in our Bible study approach? Setting the Scene: Acts 8:31 “ ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Marks of the Eunuch’s Humility • He admitted a limitation: “How can I…?” • He welcomed help: “unless someone guides me.” • He gave Philip access: “He invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” • He responded immediately once truth was clear (vv. 36-38). Why Humility Matters in Bible Study • Psalm 119:18 — Without the Lord opening our eyes, we miss “wondrous things.” • Isaiah 66:2 — God esteems “him who is humble… who trembles at My word.” • James 1:21 — The word saves when it is “humbly” received. • Proverbs 3:5 — Trusting God, not self, guards us from misinterpretation. • 1 Peter 5:5 — Grace flows to the humble; pride blocks it. Putting Humility into Practice 1. Start every reading session acknowledging dependence on the Author. – Pray Psalm 119:18 verbatim. 2. Approach the text willing to be taught, corrected, or redirected. – 2 Timothy 3:16 promises Scripture will “teach, reprove, correct, train.” 3. Invite sound guidance. – Seek mature believers, commentaries, or pastors as the eunuch sought Philip. 4. Ask honest questions instead of forcing answers. – Proverbs 1:5: “Let the wise listen and gain instruction.” 5. Obey promptly when truth is understood. – The eunuch went straight to baptism (Acts 8:36-38). Knowledge without obedience breeds pride. Daily Habits that Nurture a Humble Heart • Keep a “teachability” journal: jot discoveries and how they adjust your life. • Memorize verses on humility (Matthew 18:3; 1 Peter 5:5) and review them before study. • Regularly sit under expository preaching; hearing others handle the Word trains your ear. • Fast from commentaries occasionally to remind yourself the Spirit still “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). • Serve in unnoticed church roles; practical humility seeps into study habits. Closing Encouragement Every time you open the Bible, picture yourself inviting the Holy Spirit to “come up and sit” beside you, as the eunuch did with Philip. That posture keeps the heart soft, the mind clear, and the path open for transformative truth. |
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