Simon the Great
Now is the time for all great men to be humbled.
Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great." and they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place. - Acts 8:9-13
Today we encounter Simon, a self professed man of greatness who finds himself face to face with his own limitations.
How humbling.
It is far better to be lifted up than to be brought down and that is real message here. We are all lifted up by God and yet we don’t always recognize that.
We are ourselves through our own eyes, comparing ourselves to others and feeling good that we aren’t as bad or aren’t struggling as much.
When we see ourselves as great, we see others as something less. That is not how God sees them or us. In God’s eyes we are all great and we are all humbled. None is greater than any other.
When you feed people who are hungry like we do every day, it is easy to see oneself as blessed, as better off because we have and others don’t. But if we strive to give those who need what we would prepare for ourselves, then the equation flips. We become the humble servers and they are our guests.
This is what happened to Simon. He didn’t lose his greatness completely. He transformed it into great love and service. He backed a believer and not just a follower.
When we become believers, we give of ourselves and gain everything.
More to come...