FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2012
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. –Acts 8:5
In the book of Acts, we find this story about Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples:
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5–8)
Philip had a heart for nonbelievers. Consider for a moment where he was going: Samaria. Being a Jew, Philip normally would have had nothing to do with Samaritans. In effect, he was going to the enemies of Israel. Jews looked down on Samaritans, and Samaritans looked down on Jews.
In Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well in Samaria, she said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (John 4:9).
Philip was willing to cross cultural lines with the message of the gospel and reach out to the Samaritan people. Philip had a heart for nonbelievers, and so should we.
Alexander Maclaren said, “You tell me the depth of a Christian’s compassion, and I will tell you the measure of his usefulness.”
We can talk all day long about techniques for sharing our faith and apologetics and having the right answers for the right questions. But if we don’t care about nonbelieving people, then none of that is really going to matter.
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Sharing the gospel starts with caring.
Matthew 17-19
Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514.
