Good morning! Throughout the years I’ve heard everything has a price and money can’t buy love. While we can debate on those two things for hours in Acts chapter 8 we will read on a man who tried to buy power. Join me as we continue our reading.Enjoy your day and weekend.

Bible Verse – Acts 8:18-24 NLT

“¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. ¹⁹ “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”

²⁰ But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! ²¹ You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. ²² Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, ²³ for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

²⁴ “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!””

Recap:

In earlier verses we read Simon was a sorcerer who used demonic power/magic to influence the people. While Simon believed the Good News Philip preached and he followed Philip around, Simon’s heart had not been changed. He believed money could buy him greater power.

The apostle Peter quickly recognized the flaw in Simon’s heart and called on him to repent of the wickedness in his heart – Simon was full of jealousy and was held captive by sin.

Reflection:

Money can buy many things, but it can’t buy God. Money can pay for open heart surgery, but it can’t change a person’s heart like God can.

Sisters and brothers, it’s time for us to evaluate areas within our heart that may be filled with wickedness, jealousy or is held captive by sin and repent.

Quick questions:

• What evil or wicked thoughts are built up in your heart today?

• Who are you jealous of and why?

• What thing, person or situation is holding you captive or in fear?

Are you ready to call on the name of the Lord and repent/ask for forgiveness of those things.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for pointing out things within our hearts that need to change. Thank you for being the great physician who can change hearts and redirect our motives and plans. Lord, begin with us, change our hearts, remove wicked and evil thoughts that have built up in them, remove all traces of jealousy, and set us free from the things that are trying to or are keeping us captive. Lord God, forgive us and set us free. Lord, we want to participate in every part of your kingdom work. Lord, give us wisdom like apostle Peter to discern people/spirits who try to latch on to us because of what is in their hearts (e.g., evil motives, jealousy, self-centered). Lord, make us bold enough to rebuke it and brave enough to call out the need for repentance. Lord, you have given us spiritual gifts to glorify your kingdom and not ourselves. Let everything we do bring glory and honor to you. Help us to stand united in love, for justice, and purpose to help those you call us to help, to pray with those who need You and to encourage others to keep pressing forward in You. In Jesus name, amen!
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