“‘You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.’ And Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.’” Acts 8:21–24
Have you ever had someone say a hard, challenging word to you that stung, but after the sting wore off, you could see clearly that it was exactly what you needed to hear?
Oftentimes, when we are knee-deep in sin, it’s hard for us to see our way out. We need someone to wake us up. For some people, it takes the equivalent of a two-by-four to the head—a strong, direct word to show us the depth of our sin. Without it, we simply wouldn’t respond.
Simon was a guy like that. He was knee-deep in his own sin of selfishness, trying to buy God’s gifts with money. This was a grievous error. He needed a strong word to call him to repentance, and that’s exactly what Peter did. Fortunately, Simon was awakened to his need for forgiveness. He sought the help of others and asked for prayer. This displayed dependence on others and on God, which God loves to honor.
When we are corrected by parents, teachers, pastors, or friends, we show true wisdom when we ask for help and pursue forgiveness. God loves it when we respond to our sin this way. May it be so of us!
Read
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8–10
- What is the promise in this verse for those who repent?
- What do we learn about God’s character in these verses?
- How have you tended to respond to rebuke?
Prayer
Father, our hearts are often prone to sin. Help us to love you more than we love sin. Help us to be quick to repent like Simon when we are in sin. Help us to listen well to others that love us and want to see us grow in holiness. We need help. That is clear. Help us by your Word, your people, and your Spirit for the sake of your glory and our growth in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This devotion is adapted from the Acts Study Guide: Chapter 6–11. Pick up a copy today for only $9.99. The Study Guide includes an 11-week curriculum with small group studies, group inductive studies, as well as 55 daily devotions for your personal or family worship.
