Acts 8:12-13
But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Reflection
When the Samarians, including Simon the Sorcerer, accepted the message of Jesus Christ that Philip was preaching then their direction in life began to change. They started to turn away from the culture and the individualist, consumerist and materialist perspectives that it taught and they began to move toward Jesus and the principles that he taught. However, it would be unfair and unrealistic to expect Simon to change completely immediately. The process of turning from cultural values to kingdom values is a process. When Simon saw the great miracles that Philip was performing in the name of Jesus Christ he may have wrongly assumed that Philip was performing a kind of sorcery. Simon needed someone to walk along side of him and teach him and mentor him in his new found faith.
Have you noticed how those who turn to Jesus from the culture need help and guidance to fully move toward Faith in Jesus Christ? How can you be helpful to people who are leaving cultural influences to follow Jesus Christ?
