He’s not for sale
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:18-19
Since the beginning of the world there have been people, religions and even nations that have tried to get to God through works, through sacrifices and through gifts. It is something that was created on the inside of each person to desire that God connection. Through the ages people have made numerous attempts to fill that void within each one of us with some kind of material or physical possession. Humans have tried for millennia to get to God in their own way and by their own methods. However, the truth is, that you cannot get to Him by what you can imagine. It’s not because God doesn’t want you to, it is simply because it was not your idea, so you must come to Him in His way. The way He made it possible to connect with Him. It is the most amazing plan that no human would have ever come up with. His design is supernatural, and it makes perfect sense that God would set it up His way since we are His creation. Doesn’t it stand to reason that He would know the best way to reach and rescue us?
In today’s reading, we are introduced to a man named Simon “the great.” I call him that because the passage says that he astonished people and claimed that he was someone great. He had a great influence and the people heeded him because he “wowed” them with his tricks and sorcery. He was like an entertainer. When the apostle Philip came and preached the kingdom of God and salvation in Jesus, the people there believed and were baptized. Simon “the great” also believed but he was taken with the signs and miracles that Philip was doing so he stayed close to Philip to figure it all out. When Peter and John came, he offered them money to be able to do the things that the Holy Spirit was doing through them. Again, someone who was trying to do God things his own way. Well, as you will read, that did not go over well at all, and Peter gave him a strong rebuke and told him to get his heart right. He saw the poison that had grown up on the inside of Simon “the great” through his fame and popularity. Again, Simon was reverting back to his old way of thinking and desiring to be the “great” one again. At that point, he had no understanding that God’s way of salvation is through a relationship with Him and by filling the void in his life with the Holy Spirit’s presence.
God’s way is so pure and perfect love. He desires to walk through this life with each person in a loving and purposeful personal connection. Yes, He desires to do good works through our yielding to His Spirit, but only so we can show others just how much God really loves them. Gifts, signs and wonders are not for us, they are for those who don’t know His great love yet. Our heavenly Father desires to show His love by touching lives in a personal way. In that way, they will be drawn to His salvation in His perfect sacrifice of His only Son Jesus. Until others know that love, they will never be able to reach Him.
If you have never had a personal encounter with God through His Spirit, you can do that right now. All you need to do is start talking to Him and invite Him into your life. Begin each day by yielding to the Sprit of God and trust Him to lead you in His perfect path and plan. You can start your conversation with a pray like the one below. But don’t stop there. Now the door is open, and you can begin to talk to Him about every aspect of your life. He will lead and He will comfort you. You cannot buy the presence of God; you can only humble yourself and make room for Him to live in your life. He will stay with you as you keep those lines of communication open. It is personal and it is for you. Trust Him as your best friend today and if you truly turn your life over to Him, He will lead you in His perfect path of righteousness.
Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen
Today’s scripture: Acts 8:9-25
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 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.
The Daily Dose 