Resilience — Flexibility - Tuesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Acts 8:12–13
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. (ESV)
A friend of mine works at a downtown shelter. She once told me about a man who came in covered in tattoos from a violent past. A volunteer pulled her aside and asked quietly, "Are you sure it's safe to have him in here with everyone else?" She looked at the man, then back at the volunteer, and said, "He's not a threat. He's a mission field."
In Acts 8, that's the posture Philip carries into Samaria. Among the crowds that gathered to hear him is a man named Simon, a sorcerer who had spent years captivating people with dark, occult power. Simon wasn't a fringe figure hovering at the edges; he was the man everyone in town already paid attention to, the one people had based their sense of "impressive" and "powerful" around. He was steeped in exactly the kind of spiritual darkness we'd assume would keep someone far from the truth.
Yet, Philip preaches the same good news to Simon that he preaches to the farmer, the mother, and the beggar. Simon believes and is baptized. We don't know for certain whether his faith took root or was eventually choked out, but what we do know is this: No one held back the gospel from him because he seemed "too far gone."
Sometimes we keep a mental list of people we think are too far gone. Someone whose politics grate on us. Someone whose lifestyle unsettles us. Someone whose past makes us want to keep our distance, rather than get close to them.
But Philip demonstrates resilient flexibility by sharing Jesus without withholding in his own heart who deserves to hear the gospel, and without waiting for anyone to clean up before coming near.
APPLICATION
Name one person you've written off as unreachable or uninterested in Jesus. This week, take one small step toward them, whether a text, an invitation, or a prayer said on their behalf.
PRAYER
Pray for the name that just came to mind.
Lord, forgive me for the lines I draw around who deserves to hear about You. Break down my categories. Give me Philip's courage to love unreservedly, the way You have loved me.