DCLM Daily Manna 2026: DCLM Daily Manna 24 January 2026: Phillip’s Desert Mission
Text: Acts 8:26–40 (KJV)
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at [c]Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
KEY VERSE: Acts 8:26
“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”
Ann Judson, one of America’s earliest female foreign missionaries, once warned:
“In encouraging young men to come out as missionaries, use the greatest caution… Humble, quiet, persevering men… willing to take the lowest place… and live near to God and are willing to suffer all things for Christ’s sake.”
This description aptly captures the spirit of Philip in today’s passage. Philip demonstrated unwavering commitment to the Master’s mandate of soul-winning. His ministry in Samaria was marked by revival, miracles, and remarkable success, confirming his calling and anointing as an evangelist.
Yet, in the midst of this flourishing work, an angel of the Lord instructed him to leave the revival and journey toward Gaza—a desert place with no visible population. Without hesitation or argument, Philip obeyed.
The urgent call for labourers in the mission field is more relevant today than ever. Research indicates that approximately 67 percent of all humans since AD 30 have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.
In the last four decades alone, over one billion people have died without hearing the gospel. Out of the world’s estimated 8.23 billion people today, only about 2.56 billion profess Christianity—and even fewer are true devotees.
This reality underscores the desperate need for missionaries who possess deep consecration, sincere love for Christ, and a burning passion for lost souls.
Margaret Clarkson captured the sacrificial nature of missionary work in her hymn “So Send I You”:
“So send I you to labour unrewarded…
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing…
To toil for me alone.”
The sit-tight attitude and refusal to obey God’s call—whether directly or through delegated responsibility—are unscriptural and flesh-driven. Philip’s obedience and his skillful handling of the word led to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.
Through this encounter, the gospel spread beyond Jerusalem into Africa, demonstrating God’s love for all people, regardless of race, culture, or geography.
This account is a solemn call to every believer. If you cannot go physically, you must participate through fervent prayers, consistent intercession, and generous financial support. Philip remains a timeless model of obedience and availability. We cannot truthfully claim to be followers of Christ while neglecting or resisting the Great Commission.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
To be Christ’s true disciples, we must fully pursue the Great Commission.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Daily Manna 24 January 2026
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