Going down a flight of stairs reminds me that I recently finished the MS 150. The ride had over 3500 riders who raised $3.2 million for MS. My four children and I were part of this great group. The volunteers did fantastic. A ride this large over many miles makes it difficult to go without incidents. There was an accident about five miles from the first day’s ending point. A bad spot on the trail caused a biker to go down and two others rode into or over the downed rider. News reports were as spotty on information as we were on the ride whether a person was medi-lifted out or not.
The entire route was closed for a period of time allowing the ambulance to navigate the bike trail to reach the three who were injured. Once we heard the reason for delay we prayed and hoped the best for the riders. One person remarked about the challenge of experienced riders and casual riders sharing the same trail. I considered a spiritual application.
The disciples of Jesus shocked the religious leaders because they were just ordinary people. The difference was that they had been with Jesus and it launched them to an experienced status. Another follower, named Philip, came into this experienced status. Philip proclaimed Jesus and demonstrated the truth of Jesus’ power. A man named Simon believed and was baptized. Simon was a sorcerer and did some pretty amazing things also, but what he saw Philip do was far beyond his abilities. What happens next is the challenge of experienced and casual followers of Jesus colliding.
Acts 8:13-24
13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
What collisions have you seen among experienced and casual followers?
Stay close to Jesus and watch out for collisions!
The entire route was closed for a period of time allowing the ambulance to navigate the bike trail to reach the three who were injured. Once we heard the reason for delay we prayed and hoped the best for the riders. One person remarked about the challenge of experienced riders and casual riders sharing the same trail. I considered a spiritual application.
The disciples of Jesus shocked the religious leaders because they were just ordinary people. The difference was that they had been with Jesus and it launched them to an experienced status. Another follower, named Philip, came into this experienced status. Philip proclaimed Jesus and demonstrated the truth of Jesus’ power. A man named Simon believed and was baptized. Simon was a sorcerer and did some pretty amazing things also, but what he saw Philip do was far beyond his abilities. What happens next is the challenge of experienced and casual followers of Jesus colliding.
Acts 8:13-24
13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
What collisions have you seen among experienced and casual followers?
Stay close to Jesus and watch out for collisions!
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