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Acts 8:9-13
Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
New International Version (NIV)
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Almost everyone is doing great. Just ask them. As a history major in college I memorized a lot of names of world leaders who were given the title, “the Great” after their name. Alexander the Great and Peter the Great come to mind. Charlemagne’s name meant Charles the Great. In the Bible we have Herod the Great, not to be confused with his descendants Herod Antipas and Herod Agrippa. So who is truly great? What do the great ones do?
In Samaria there was Simon the Great. Everyone called this magician, “The Great Power of God.” He was feeling pretty good about it until he ran into the One who was greater. Scattered by the persecution in Jerusalem, Philip, one of the seven protodeacons made his way to Samaria. God used him to heal and deliver people and to give great joy. When Simon saw what Philip did in the name of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God, Simon was amazed. Later he tried to buy the Holy Spirit from Peter and John. He learned that not everything is for sale.
In his book the Upside Down Kingdom, Donald Kraybill says Jesus chose not to live out his life as an earthly king who would be called Jesus the Great. Instead he died and rose again and ascended to heaven. In heaven every knee bows, every tongue confesses and everybody knows the Lord Jesus is the Greatest. If we ever come to know him, we will not call anybody else great. Jesus redefines the term.
In 1715, King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself, “the Great,” and was the monarch who made the famous statement, “I am the state!” His court was the most magnificent in Europe and his funeral was equally spectacular. As his body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a special candle set above his coffin to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial thousands waited in hushed silence. Then Bishop Massilon began to speak; slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”
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Pray with me:
Great are you Lord, and greatly to be praised. We praise you for your greatness. We praise you for your goodness. We confess that we sometimes elevate famous people to a level of honor which should rightly belong only to you. Father, forgive us. Let us live our lives to make your greatness and glory known throughout the earth. In the name of the Greatest One we pray. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:13-14
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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