Day 28: Saturday, April 1, 2017
Tylor Cavender

Scripture: Acts 8:18-19 (NIV) When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

 

Devotion: In chapter 8 of the book of Acts, we are told about a Samaritan named Simon. Simon was a magician who had gained a following by using flashy tricks. When Phillip came, he learned of Jesus, and began following Phillip, amazed at the miracles he performed. Then, the apostles Peter and John came to give the Holy Spirit to the people who had been baptized. Simon, being the person he always had been, thinking the same ways he always had, attempted to buy the ability to give the Holy Spirit. We’re not told about his motivations, but it’s safe to assume that when he was practicing his magic, he was doing it for the attention. Then, when he found a new kind of “magic,” he continued thinking like always in an attempt to get that attention he sought.

 

Being a coach, this story reminds me of sports. So many people participate with aspirations of becoming THE best. There are two things wrong with this sort of thinking. First, who are they doing this for? Are they doing it for their glory, or are they using their gifts to glorify God? Second, so many people never reach this goal because of the way they train. Many people might train as a runner by going out every day and running the exact same thing. In sports, much like in life though, if we always do the same thing, we will reach a plateau. Our abilities will level off and we will achieve no progress.
If we ever hope to find improvement, we cannot be content to be comfortable. We cannot find improvement in comfort. We need to step out of our comfort zones. It is uncomfortable to become a faster runner. It kind of hurts. A lot! Our walk with Christ is no different. We should be pushing ourselves to use our gifts in a way that we aren’t always at ease with, in order to bring glory to God.

 

The lyrics of the song “Voice of Truth,” by Casting Crowns is a great example of what it’s like to actually be uncomfortable. “Oh what I would do to have-The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I’m in-Onto the crashing waves-To step out of my comfort zone-To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is.” I’m pretty sure that Peter wasn’t really okay with jumping out of the boat to go walk on the water with Jesus. It may have been a little bit “different” for him. But, he at least tried. He stepped out of his comfort zone and learned a valuable lesson in faith. We need to have the faith to step out of our comfort zone so we can learn the lessons that we are called to.

 

Prayer: Awesome God, help us to remember the example of Simon. Help us to remember that we must step out of our comfort zone and into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is. Help us strive to be a living example discomfort so that we may glorify You. It is in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

 

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