Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 8:24, “And Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.’”
In Simon, we see a man on quite a journey. Having first been a prominent figure in his town and among his people, he was deeply involved in magic and sorcery, and had the awe and reverence of his peers. But upon the arrival of Philip, he is upstaged by the miraculous works of the Holy Spirit and the convicting words of the gospel. As many of his neighbors are converted and follow Jesus, Simon believes and is baptized and continues after Philip. But when Peter and John come to town, and the Holy Spirit descends on these new, Samaritan believers, Simon’s old lifestyle awakens, and he sees the opportunity to tap into another power of supernatural source. Upon hearing Simon’s attempt to buy the Holy Spirit, Peter then scolds him and warns him to repent and seek forgiveness for the evil intent of his heart. But Simon has a different idea. His thought is to have Peter and John pray for him and ask God not to mete out the punishment that he was afraid of. So, what happened? Was Simon penitent and rescued from his doom? Had he truly believed and merely misunderstood the work and source of the Spirit? Was his heart still wicked and he still hungry for the thrill of the crowd? And was he simply asking the apostles to keep him from God’s wrath while intending to go on about his way? Whatever the outcome, scripture is silent regarding Simon’s fate. All we know is that if he followed Jesus, he ended up in heaven. If not, he did not.
But what we need to consider is the extent to which we put emphasis in our own lives on the consequences rather than the cause. Children, and prominent public figures, apologize in the hopes of avoiding unpleasant outcomes. But we can be just as childish when we refuse to look far enough back and deep enough within to examine the cause of our discomfort. We want the situation to get better, or the trouble to go away, or someone else to have to pay for whatever, but we are reluctant to pray to God in search of repentance and renewal. The truth is, the results and circumstances may get better or not, but that’s all window dressing compared to what’s really at stake. Seek God for deliverance from the bondage within and know the peace of leaving the rest up to Him.
As we seek Him today, end your journey of managing the outcomes by turning over your sin within.
Have a great Thursday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
