許多人都盼望能被接納，美國女演員莎莉．菲爾德（Sally Field）也終於感受到了。她在1985年再度贏得奧斯卡最佳女主角獎，在得獎感言中表示：「我最想得到的是你們的尊重。第一次得獎時，我沒有感受到。但這次我感覺到了。我再也無法否認你們喜歡我，現在你們確實喜歡我！」

一位衣索比亞的太監也因得到尊重和接納而驚喜不已。他是外邦人，又是個太監，不能進入聖殿的內院（參閱以弗所書2章11-12節；申命記23章1節），但他渴望被接納。在他又一次失落地從耶路撒冷朝聖回程的途中，腓利找到了他（使徒行傳8章27節）。那時他正在讀以賽亞書，當中記載上帝的應許：「持守我約的太監，我必使他們在我殿中，在我牆內有記念……永遠的名」（56章4-5節）。這話就像是對他說的。這怎麼可能？在腓利對他傳講耶穌的福音之後，他說：「看哪！這裡有水，有什麼能阻止我受洗呢？」（使徒行傳8章35-36節，和合本修訂版）

其實他是在問：我真能被接納而屬於上帝嗎？腓利為他施洗，象徵耶穌已除去一切阻礙（以弗所書2章14節）。耶穌接納並團結所有認罪悔改並信靠祂的人。這個太監受洗之後，「歡歡喜喜地」繼續前行（使徒行傳8章39節），因他已被接納，完全屬於上帝了！

Actress Sally Field finally felt what we all long for. When she won a second Oscar in 1985, she exclaimed in her acceptance speech: “I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn’t feel it. But this time I feel it. And I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me.”

An Ethiopian eunuch was also amazed by his acceptance. As a gentile and as a eunuch, he was denied entrance into the temple’s inner courts (see Ephesians 2:11-12; Deuteronomy 23:1). Yet he yearned to be included. Philip found him returning from another unsatisfying pilgrimage to Jerusalem (Acts 8:27).

The Ethiopian man was reading Isaiah, which promised that eunuchs who “hold fast to my covenant” will receive “within my temple and its walls a memorial and . . . an everlasting name” (Isaiah 56:4-5). How could this be? Then Philip “told him the good news about Jesus,” and the man responded, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” (Acts 8:35-36).

He was asking, Am I really allowed in? Do I belong? Philip baptized him as a sign that Jesus had bulldozed every barrier (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus embraces—and unites—everyone who turns from sin and puts their trust in Him. The man “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). He finally and fully belonged.