by Pastor Rich Carlson 

If Stephen was the first deacon to be martyred, Phillip was the first deacon who went beyond “deaconing” to demonstrate that it does not take a trained pastor to preach the gospel.  

Acts 8 has two stories about deacon Phillip and his service to Jesus in the presence of powerful persecution. Phillip baptized two people in these stories: Simon the sorcerer and the unnamed Ethiopian eunuch. The results of Phillip’s evangelistic efforts were mixed. Simon, though baptized, had ulterior motives (making money). He was reprimanded by the church leaders and encouraged to repent. Meanwhile, the eunuch “went away rejoicing.” That sounds like a 50 percent success rate, and it helps me remember that none of us is called to be perfect in our work or the results, just faithful. 

I am also reminded that faithfulness on my part does not guarantee faithfulness on the part of others. Though I need to be responsible in proclaiming Christ, as Phillip was, success is not guaranteed. Phillip was blessed by God. The evidence is the miracles God performed through him. But that did not guarantee that everyone who accepted the message would prove to be the perfect Christian. Nevertheless, Phillip kept on faithfully serving his Lord, listening to the Spirit and following His leading. Some experiences worked out better than others, but faithfulness to God was always his hallmark.

The lesson for you and me? We need simply to be faithful to God's calling, and then be satisfied with whatever the response from another person turns out to be. 

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. "God is Faithful" is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.