A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. (Acts 19:19-20)
Loving the supernatural, the Ephesians practiced sorcery not realizing, until their lives were cheerless, that witchcraft was a result of Satan’s power. They learned that one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead, is detestable to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
They didn’t hide their spells and books on witchcraft, they burnt them publicly at a cost of about $4,000,000 in today’s dollars. Because they loved God enough to give up what wasn’t pleasing to Him, He was able to use them. Christianity spread widely and grew in power. Today we know about Jesus because the Ephesians gave up witchcraft.
Like the Ephesians, when you believe in Jesus, He saves you. You become a new person, displaying a new nature, by giving up behaviors that aren’t pleasing to God.
Christians often retain practices, habits, and behaviors in their lives that keep God from using them and are passed down to future generations. God doesn’t want us to suffer to give these things up. He wants us to do it because we love Him.
God doesn’t want us to change from caterpillars into moths—He wants us to be butterflies. Search your heart for anything you hold onto that keeps you from being your best. Don’t think you’re depriving yourself by removing those things from your life. Do it because you love God and your family. He’ll reward you.
Father, I praise You for loving me. Help me return Your love by giving up _________. Reward me by keeping future generations from having my bad habits and traits. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
If we are giving up something that we don’t want to spread to the next generation, it is probably not something that would make us feel deprived. It is probably something that we should let go of to be a better person and to please God. We can show our love by trying to be the best version of ourselves. Thoughtful prayer brings us closer to God and we are able to establish a closer more personal relationship with Him. I love you Sis! Blessings today and everyday as we move closer to Christmas, and the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
You’re right. But I also know you’re trying to quit smoking. Picture Trey with a cigarette in his mouth. Telling Trey you’re quitting smoking for him might have an impact. Dad suffered so much because he smoked, and I don’t want that to happen to anyone else. I love you Sis and prayed for you and yours this morning. Merry Christmas.