ESOCS Devotional 18 July 2024 – False Believers Live for Selfish Ends
MEMORY VERSE: “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.”Acts 8:20-21 NIV
TEXT: ACTS 8:4-25
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his [d]sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
Salvation is a matter of God changing your heart (8:21). He takes your ‘heart of stone’ and replaces it with a ‘heart of flesh’, which is tender towards Him (Ezek. 36:26). He makes you a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Rather than living for self, as Simon was still doing, true believers live for God and His glory. Simon wanted this new power so that people would be impressed with how great Simon was. But Peter makes it clear that he had no part or portion in the ministry that he and John shared.
Learning to live for God’s glory is a lifelong process. We all struggle against selfish motives every day. But it is to say that if God has changed your heart, when He convicts you of your selfish focus, you repent and seek afresh to live for Him. False believers try to use God or spiritual power for personal aims.
All believers receive the Holy Spirit through faith at the moment of salvation (Gal. 3:2-5). He seals us as a pledge of our inheritance (Eph. 1:13; 4:30). He dwells in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19). He baptizes us all into the body of Christ, so that we all drink from the same Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). He gives spiritual gifts to every Christian according to His sovereign will (1 Cor. 12:4-30). Paul says that if anyone does not have the Spirit, he does not belong to Christ (Rom. 8:9).
False believers, however, do not understand the Spirit’s role or power. They think of Him as an impersonal force, which they can manipulate for their own selfish ends. They want to use God for personal success or power.
Peter accuses Simon of being “in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” All unbelievers, even those who live decent, law-abiding lives are in bondage to sin (Rom. 6:17). They are unable to break free from sin so as to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord (Rom. 8:7-8). But the Holy Spirit delivers us from bondage to sin and Satan, and frees us to become slaves to God (Rom. 6:17-19, 22). Again, this is not to imply that Christians are sinlessly perfect. We struggle against sin as long as we live in this body (Rom. 7). We must learn to walk daily in the Spirit so as to overcome the deeds of the flesh and to produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-23).
Repentance is God’s gift; not man’s effort (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25). He grants it at the moment of salvation, and the believer walks in repentance every day, as God’s Word convicts him of sin. Simon’s answer to Peter (8:24) does not reveal personal repentance; but rather, just a desire to escape from the consequences of his sin.
Repentance is a way of life for all who are born of God’s Spirit.
- What are your motives for desiring spiritual gifts?
- Gracious Father, I beseech you to help me to work selflessly in the ministry to your own glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Further Reading: Deuteronomy 6:13-end; Ezekiel 34:11-16; Mark 15:1-15
ESOCS Devotional 18 July 2024
