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I once heard the question, “Are we willing to live larger than ourselves?” I thought what a profound question to contemplate. I considered what needed to change in my own life. I have a habit of just letting things slide. The truth is, if we are Christ Followers and we love one another, we will wait on the Holy Spirit and then do what He says to do.

In Acts 8 Stephen has been stoned to death and Saul is continuing to persecute the Christians. Then we see the Holy Spirit through his apostles as Philip is in Samaria: demons are being cast out, people are being healed, and the city is excited – people are getting saved and baptized.

In verses 14-24, “Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit. (For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness.” But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

Peter is willing “to live larger than himself.” He confronts Simon with his foolish behavior. As Christ Followers, we must be willing to do things that Holy Spirit ask us. Not always base our decisions on what is comfortable for our own selfishness. Sometimes we should do things so that God gets all the glory. It is not always about preference. In fact, we should ask God, “What is your preference?” As Christ Followers may we be willing “to live larger than ourselves” so that others may know and glorify God. May we be like Peter and love one another.

Yvette Perrin can be reached at theword2yvette@ gmail.com.