9Now 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, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12But 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. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. (Acts 8)
Thoughts: Simon Magus boasted he was someone great. He became a believer because of the popularity of Christianity by the crowd. But his ego never got under control. To grow as a Christian we must get God on the throne of our heart and take our ego off. We do not pray, "My kingdom come, my will be done." We pray instead, "Not my will, but thine be done." On the surface Simon was a believer. Philip was right to receive him upon his profession of faith. Only God is the true judge of a person's heart. But later Simon showed his ego was still a problem, and he only wanted to manipulate God for his own selfish ends.
Prayer: Lord, help me to honor you on the inside and not just on the outside. Help me to humble myself before you as Lord.
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