“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.” Acts 8:4-5 (NIV)
Many of us often fall into the trap of thinking that we know better than the God who created us the way we are and thus long to live in other people’s skin. We usually say, if only I had been born different, things would have been better for me. We therefore live with a virulent form of self loathing that causes us to falsely perceive ourselves as worms rather than affirm to ourselves what the Scriptures say, which is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We tend to view ourselves in the same light as those who care nothing about us and tend to put us down. Understand that the first step in becoming all that you can be in God is to accept yourself for who you are. You need to agree with God that He is not mistaken in making you the way you are or causing you to grow up in the particular environment that you were raised. Gladly accept that God has a wonderful plan for your life and seek to fulfil it with everything within you.
The above passage may not seem groundbreaking to us, but it was to Philip, a Jew, albeit a Grecian Jew. Philip’s Hellenic background gave him an advantage over his Hebraic counterparts. It meant that he had a better appreciation of human diversity and easily understood that the message of the Gospel was for everyone who believes. This was far ahead of his Hebraic counterparts whose world view was restricted to the limiting environs of Judea and Galilee and who in error believed that the Gospel was meant only for them. This was the reason why Philip did not hesitate to share the Gospel with the hated mongrel Samaritans and God affirmed that he was heading in the right direction by confirming His anointing through healings and miracles.
So, what lessons can we learn from Philip? First, whoever you are and whatever your background, God sees you as a unique person. He wants you to cultivate a healthy self image and start seeing yourself the way He sees you. Second, God transformed what seemed a liability into an asset. What some might presently regard as a liability where you are concerned will, with God’s vital input and your obedience, actually translate into an asset wherever God has destined to use you. So, seek to conform to God’s higher view rather than short-changing yourself by conforming to people’s limited view of you. Third, Philip had first hand experience of and so understood what it meant to be discriminated against on the basis that you are different. So, he was able to empathise with and reach out to the Samaritans who had endured centuries of Jewish xenophobia. This implies that God can use your negative experiences as a launch pad for catapulting you into your destiny. The key is not to allow bitterness to take root in your heart. Recognise and adjust to the reality that irrespective of their spiritual status, people will always be people – human, fallible, vindictive and fearful. So, walk in love. Let God be God. He is adept at finding a way through what is the complex and often perplexing moral maze that is human interrelationships.
Prayer:
Lord, my life and all that it entails is in your capable hand. Help me to see the silver lining in every cloud of trouble that blows my way. Give me the presence of mind to boldly grasp every opportunity to spread the Gospel even while in difficulties, so that your strength can come through in my weakness. Help me know that you made me a victor and so never succumb to playing the victim to the glory of your name. Amen