Father, thank You for the beautifully sunshiny day we are having. May I be as grateful for the rain (or snow?) tomorrow. Each is a gift that we cannot do without in season.
Acts 8:4-25 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of the most disheartening things about our world today is that pretty much everything can be bought or sold. Humanity has become so hard of heart that there are no limits, there are no holds barred.
As I poked around a bit online, I came across a quote by famed American historian and theorist of the evolution of civilizations, Carroll Quigley (1910 –1977). He stated in one of his lectures, “…today everything is commercialized—politics, religion, education, ideology, belief, the armed services… Everything has its price.”
It seems that nothing is sacred anymore. Regardless of how the world feels about such things, some things cannot be bought.
In today’s passage Simon, a sorcerer in Samaria, was “the” man, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. (v9b) …that was until Philip showed up on the scene.
Many Samaritans came to believe Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ… and…were baptized. v12
Simon himself became a believer and was baptized! But as we continue reading it becomes more and more obvious that he still had a hungering to be “the” man. He followed Philip wherever he went amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.
When Peter and John got there to verify what was happening, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit and laid their hands upon them they did! Simon was wowed and his kneejerk reaction was to offer money to buy the power he saw Peter and John had.
Peter immediately cut him off saying,
“May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” vs21-23 NLT
Simon quickly backpedaled asking for their prayers that what Peter had said wouldn’t happen to him.
Everything else in our world may have its price…but not the things of God! We have what God gives us out of His generous hand. Our faith is either the real deal…or it’s not. We can’t have our feet in both the worldly kingdom and God’s Kingdom.
Matthew recorded Jesus as saying,
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. Matthew 6:24 AMP
Lord Jesus, help us. We can’t buy our way into a relationship with You. If we think we can buy power and prestige in Your Kingdom, it will all be a sham. Only what comes from You is genuine. May we seek that out and then live it out! Amen.
Mar 10th, 2022, Thurs, 12:58 pm
