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- Oct 26, 2007
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However, when Simon saw that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he brought money and offered it to them, Acts 8:18 AMPC
Simon was a street magician who saw that the crowd was impressed with the miracles of the apostles. Simon’s idea of success was pleasing a crowd, and the apostles’ miracles certainly accomplished that.
Simon made a logical (though ultimately very faulty) conclusion. If he could simply offer a financial incentive to learn the tricks of these new street performers, then he could gain a solid return on that investment by doing what the apostles had been doing. Wouldn’t that impress the crowd?
Simon could not receive anything from God because this wasn’t a matter of true faith in Him but the desire to purchase a commodity to leverage new income opportunities.
God didn’t create the new life in Christ as a way to improve personal income as much as He did to improve today and the future for everyone who freely takes heart. God calls people to represent Him well, and some do make a living from that work, but His gifts have always been free. They will nave be for sale.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to try to buy what I can never afford. You’ve offered gifts, so I will accept them as gifts and say thank You with an improved heart response to You and Your plans for me.
Simon was a street magician who saw that the crowd was impressed with the miracles of the apostles. Simon’s idea of success was pleasing a crowd, and the apostles’ miracles certainly accomplished that.
Simon made a logical (though ultimately very faulty) conclusion. If he could simply offer a financial incentive to learn the tricks of these new street performers, then he could gain a solid return on that investment by doing what the apostles had been doing. Wouldn’t that impress the crowd?
Simon could not receive anything from God because this wasn’t a matter of true faith in Him but the desire to purchase a commodity to leverage new income opportunities.
God didn’t create the new life in Christ as a way to improve personal income as much as He did to improve today and the future for everyone who freely takes heart. God calls people to represent Him well, and some do make a living from that work, but His gifts have always been free. They will nave be for sale.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to try to buy what I can never afford. You’ve offered gifts, so I will accept them as gifts and say thank You with an improved heart response to You and Your plans for me.
