When wonders and signs are enough
by Sean Hotinski
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Simon himself believed and was baptised … astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw (Acts 8:13).
Read Acts 8:1b–13
In Tuesday’s devotion, we heard that the signs and wonders performed by Stephen weren’t enough to convince his Jewish opponents – the Sanhedrin – about the truth of Christianity. In fact, they stoned Stephen to death.
Here, Philip (not one of the twelve but one of the seven) performs wonders and signs amongst the Samaritans – people who were hostile to the Jews and vice versa – and yet, surprisingly, the opposite happens. Not only do they listen to him attentively, but many of them also even believe him and put their faith in Jesus. What happens here defies all reason and logic and is truly a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
Simon was a pagan magician who practised magic in Samaria and was even called by the people ‘the power of God that is called Great’ (Acts 8:10). But when this influential pagan heard Philip preach about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, he also believed and was baptised (Acts 8:13).
What we learn in all of this is that God’s ways are not our ways. We have our thoughts and ideas about people. We think we know who we’ve figured out – whether or not they’ll accept the gospel. But the Lord alone knows. The Lord can make Christians out of the people we thought would never change. The Lord can defy our notions of what seems logical or reasonable to accomplish his good and gracious purposes.
Keep in mind that this happened after Stephen’s martyrdom and the persecution that drove the disciples out of Jerusalem. As a grain of wheat only bears much fruit when it falls into the earth and dies (John 12:24), sometimes we have to face rejection from unbelievers before we see the results of the gospel. But that’s okay: when we tell others about Jesus, we’re serving God above all, not people. It is God who commends us for our work, and it is God who works through our witness for his good and gracious purposes.
Heavenly Father, sometimes I see opportunities to talk with others about Jesus, but I don’t because I’m afraid of rejection. Please forgive me for my cowardice. I pray that you fill me with your Holy Spirit so that when the time is right, I can tell people what you would want me to tell them in the way that you would want me to say it. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Sean Hotinski is from Perth, Western Australia. He is currently in Adelaide with his wife, Olya, studying to be a pastor, and is doing vicarage at St Paul Lutheran Church, Blair Athol. In his spare time, Sean enjoys reading and studying the Bible, looking into Christian apologetics, game design, and going on walks.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
