Philip and the Blessing of the Short Straw in Samaria

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Acts 8:5, “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.”

Background

If you were living back in the late 16th century, no doubt you would have experienced at some point getting the worse end of the staff, which means that you would have been the victim of a bad deal. Today, you might hear someone getting the short end of the stick, which seems to make far less sense, but carries the same meaning. In biblical times for Jews, either saying might entail having to deal with anyone or anything pertaining to Samaria. To invoke another phrase, we know this because we hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. When Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman by the well, she plainly states that Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. And when Jesus wanted to drive home a message to His Jewish listeners about being an outcast and mercy and who is our neighbor, he made a “good” Samaritan the hero of His story. Likewise, when Jesus commissioned the apostles just before His ascension and told them to wait for the Holy Spirit, He said they would be witnesses in their hometown, in their region, unto the uttermost parts of earth, and also in Samaria. Now, He could have mentioned any other place outside of Judaea by name, but He specifically chose Samaria. Why would He do that? It had to be for more reason than because it was the neighboring region to Judaea. He could have included any region or well-known area or powerful, influential city on the map, but He chose the Samaritans. And chances are, until Stephen’s death, not one believer had ventured to set foot in Samaria.

Application

But when the new Christians scatter, Philip the deacon is compelled to visit his outcast neighbors and bring them mercy. Of the believers who went abroad, some, and maybe Philip himself, may have thought he got the short end of the stick. Certainly other followers of Christ ended up in happening places like Corinth or Ephesus or quaint villages off the beaten path. But Philip fulfilled his part of Christ’s prophecy by crossing over into uncomfortable territory. It didn’t mean He was further from Jesus or that he had made a mistake. Rather, he was right in the heart of Christ’s intentions. Sometimes drawing the short straw is the best thing you could do.

Charge

As we seek Him today, view wherever you are or wherever you’re going as your intended spot in the plans of Jesus and see what He wants you to do there.

Editor Comment: This devotional reframes an uncomfortable or overlooked assignment as the exact place Jesus intends you to serve Him.