Shine – To Those With Wrong Motives
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, give wisdom today as I study Your Word. Open the eyes of my heart that I might see You more clearly and respond faithfully to Your call. Amen
Now 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, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. Acts 8:9-13 NIV
“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. Acts 8:18-25 NIV
REFLECT:
The story of Simon the sorcerer appears to be a sad one of a person that does all the right things on the outside but does not make the necessary changes of his heart on the inside. The Scriptures say Simon “believed and was baptized” but his life reflects that his passion was only for miracles and personal powers to be seen by others as “someone great.” He tries to buy the Spirit’s power reflecting the evil “thought in your heart.” Peter and John recognize this wickedness and call him to account for his spiritual condition instructing him to “repent” and “pray” for forgiveness.
APPLY:
Sometimes shining in this world as Christ followers requires us to identify and speak out against the untruth and dark powers of this sinful world. While we are never more valuable than any other person on this earth, whether saved or lost, we can have the Spirit’s discernment regarding spiritual truth that non-Christians do not possess. We can and must share this truth, including holding ourselves and other believers accountable to living truthful lives as Christ’s ambassadors. We cannot know what is in someone’s heart so we do not judge others but we do speak to what we know. I have a close friend who gave his life to Christ several years ago after a series of bad decisions led to a DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol). His growth in Christ has been so encouraging as we meet and study the Word together. Recently, and still young in his faith, my friend is faced with sharing hard truths with a colleague making the same series of bad decisions. There is no guarantee of a listening ear or the same repentance and change of direction but he is willing to speak the truth and offer to walk alongside. We can only be faithful, pray and do our part. I am so proud of this young friend and pray for his former co-worker. Who do you need to shine to today? Prepare your heart and open your ears to His call.
CLOSING PRAYER:
“Make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where injury, pardon; where doubt, faith; where despair, hope; where darkness, light; and where sadness, joy.” In Jesus name, Amen. (St. Francis of Assisi)
WORSHIP: