City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed…18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ 20 Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.’”

Acts 8:13, 18-21 ESV

Reflection

The New Testament was written in Greek, and the Greek word for “believe” is pisteuo, which stems from the noun pistis, meaning faith or trust. Simon had faith and trust in the Good News, he even followed Philip everywhere he went to see more miracles. If he believed in Jesus Christ and what He had done, then why did he not receive the power of the Holy Spirit along with his fellow converts when Peter and John arrived (Acts 8:15-17)?

It was withheld (maybe temporarily, Luke doesn’t say) because his heart was not in the right place. He thought he could purchase the power of the Holy Spirit to do the miracles. Peter calls him out for completely missing the point. The journey from Jerusalem to Samaria required at least two full days of walking, and the message that the Samaritans had received God’s Word would have taken at least two days to reach the apostles, so it can be safe to say Simon had been with Philip for nearly a week. Simon had been following Philip for a week watching the miracles, but he wasn’t listening to what Philip was saying. At the time, he did not shemah the Word, or listen with the intent to understand and put into practice. As Pastor Tim said last Sunday, Simon was not truly repentant as he was after power and not God.

Application

Belief in God and what He’s done is one matter; understanding His heart, or a relationship with Him, is another. Too many see God as transactional. Believe and be successful (or in Simon’s case, powerful). Go to church or go to hell. That’s not at all who God is. He wants you to believe in Him and what Jesus has done on the cross, but this doesn’t end there. He wants a relationship with you. A relationship with God involves shema of His Word, or listening with the intent to understand and put into practice.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help make my heart right before You and value my relationship with You above all else. Help me to shema Your Word, to listen with the intent to understand and put into practice. In Your name I pray, amen.