What God does or who He is?

I came across this quote in a book I’m reading and it’s stuck with me in the way the Holy Spirit’s conviction does.

“We must decide if we are going to put our faith in what God does or in who God is.” (Pete Wilson, “Plan B”)

It’s always a tricky balance, I think. Do I just want a story to tell or do I want an encounter with God? Do I pray for His blessing but miss out on His Presence? Am I disappointed in circumstances or thankful for His comfort and guidance? Am I concerned with God’s will for my life or simply God’s will?

Then, wouldn’t you know it, I was reading my Bible this morning and this story underscored the issue:

⁹Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, ¹⁰and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." ¹¹They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. ¹²But 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. ¹³Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

¹⁴When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money ¹⁹and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

²⁰Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²²Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

²⁴Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

²⁵When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:9-25)

It seems that Simon trying to mix his before and after lives instead of dying to his old life and embracing the new life in Christ he’s been offered. Trying to have the best of both worlds, if you will. Maybe he doesn’t fully understand what it is to walk with Christ and know Him and love Him.

Do I?

It’s a powerful reminder that God is God and He Himself is the prize.

He is my portion and He is sufficient.

Instead, I want to live Paul’s philosophy found in Philippians 3:8

“…I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”

I pray that I would always seek God’s face and not just His hand in my life.

That He would be real to me in such a way that I am constantly aware of His Presence and power, regardless of my circumstances.