It’s Hard, Yet It’s Easy
July 27, 2024
Bewitched or buttressed?
November 13, 2018
Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God." And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. – ACTS 8:9-11
There is the religion of magic bewitches the heart, but moral faith buttresses the heart. Jesus, who had enough power over nature to still storms, rejected magic. The devil wanted Jesus to twirl His wand in the wilderness and change the stones into bread and levitate off the Temple parapet.
Crowds flocked to see signs. But Jesus always refused. Jesus rejected magic because He knew that though the people might have been impressed, they wouldn’t have been improved. Magic would have given their hearts a tingle, but not transformation.
The big question of magic religion is, “What will God do for me?” But the quest of moral faith is, “What will Almighty God do in and through me for His sake and that of others?” Magic religion may bewitch your heart but it can’t buttress it with strength to stand and serve. Turn from Houdini and go after Jesus.
TODAY’S FOCUS
The immature heart goes after magic, but maturing followers of Christ embrace moral faith, so ask God for the discernment to know the difference and passion for the moral.
