Acts 8:4-25 Simon the Sorcerer

Acts 8:4-25 NIV
It takes time to really get to know the LORD. We may hear the message and believe; but, it still takes time to really get to know; to have a relationship, with the LORD. There are many lessons to learn along the way in order to grow in Christ. Some take longer than others to learn the lessons.

Simon, the sorcerer, did not understand fully when he was first baptized. The people thought that he had great power; that is, until Philip came to town. Philip was busy proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Even this sorcerer, Simon, heard Philip, believed and was baptized. Simon was impressed with the great signs and miracles that were performed through Philip.

When Peter and John came to town, they prayed and laid hands on the new believers because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. In his zeal, Simon wanted this power to lay on hands so that people might receive the Holy Spirit. Whether he wanted it to make himself look good or so that even more people might come to know the Holy Spirit or both, we do not know. It may have been a noble quest or it may have been a self-centered request. A real problem was that Simon thought that he could buy this gift. He did not yet know Jesus enough to know that the gifts that are given us were purchased by His blood. They cannot be bought.

A few years ago, I tried encouraging an elderly woman to return to worship now and then, as she was able. She had no problem getting around; but, no longer drove so I promised to pick her up. She did not want to go. Her response was "I paid my dues." I reminded her that we cannot buy salvation. She was a very lovely woman and it made me very sad to think that her relationship with Jesus all these years had been a relationship built on the law and not the graceful love of God. She, had indeed been very faithful in attendance when she was younger. But, I wondered, had she really heard and understood the message of God's gift of love to her, in His Son, Jesus the Christ. Had she accepted Jesus Christ as her one and only savior?

When Peter and John pointed out Simon's sin in thinking he could purchase God's gifts, it appears that he repented and grew from the lesson, as he asked for prayer. May we all be willing to accept that our works will not purchase for us any of God's gifts. May God help us to, day be day, grow in relationship with Him, our Father, our Savior, our Counselor.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Proverbs 21 - The Kingdom Cannot be Bought

"A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart." (Prov 21:2 NIV)

So many excuses... We use them all in order to not do what is right. How often have we written a check to some charitable agency to assuage our guilt? The LORD knows why the offering or sacrifice is given. It is so much easier for many of us to write a check rather than actually get involved.

I remember, years ago, offering to pick up an elderly woman so that she could attend worship. She no longer drove and was pretty much a shut-in. I visited her regularly. I was floored when my offer was received with a short, "I paid my dues." In other words, she was telling me that she had spent enough time worshipping God. That was her sacrifice: attending worship and making her weekly offering. For some reason she rationalized that she had earned her way into heaven by faithful church attendance in previous years. Somehow, she had even built up a reserve!

She had presented herself as a faithful Christian for many, many decades. Yet, the question remains: was she faithful to God or to herself? How, can one spend so many years hearing the Word in a Lutheran church and come away thinking that we can buy ourselves a way to heaven by attending worship and paying our tithes. The only way to the Kingdom of God, is through faith in the one who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. So how is it that there are so many "Christians" who feel that they have paid their dues, paid the debt? Jesus paid the debt. You and I cannot even begin to pay the ransom for our own lives. Jesus already paid the ransom. It is a free gift to you. Receive it and quit your futile attempts to save yourself. We worship God, not to save ourselves, but because God has already saved us through His Son. Worship is an act of thanksgiving and praise for what He has already done, not to get Him to do something to benefit us in the present or future. Jesus said on the cross "It is finished!" Indeed, it is. It is finished and we rejoice. We show our gratitude by worshipping Him and by sharing the Good News of what He has done with others. God knows whether we are being faithful to Him or faithful to ourselves. He weighs our hearts. He knows whether we worship Him or ourselves, our own lives and good works.

If you consider worshipping God as the sacrifice you make; then the next time you're at Worship, it might be good for you to actually listen to what your Pastor is saying. Jesus made that ultimate sacrifice that you might live eternally in our Father's Kingdom. You cannot, by your good works, by your sacrifice of time or money, earn your way into His Kingdom. Whether you attend worship or stay at home, no matter what excuse you use, the LORD weighs your heart and knows the truth.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 
P.S. Don't forget to read Proverbs 21 today, it is full of wisdom to help guide you in your journey.

Psalm 50: I Paid My Dues - Not!

"I paid my dues."  That was the response I received, years ago, from an elderly woman, when I asked her if I could pick her up for worship.  She had been a member of at least the church on earth for 80 plus years.  She no longer drove.  I thought that being able to worship our LORD, with her brothers and sisters in Christ, would be something she would want to do.  But, no.  Her response was I have done my duty.  "I paid my dues."

How anyone could attend Worship for that many years and not understand that there are no dues to pay is beyond me.  There are no dues!  Christ paid it all for us, with His blood.  We worship out of thanksgiving, not because if we do, we will magically get to rise again once we die.  We worship not out of fear of death, but out of love and thanksgiving to a God who has already saved us.  We give thanks because God paid our dues and we have no need to fear death, but look forward to eternal life in Christ. 

You cannot pay your own dues.  That is the bottom line.  God does not expect sacrifices to appease Him.  Our offerings are not payment.  They are or should be from a grateful heart. 

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High." (Psalm 50:14 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J