The text which Selwyn uses for today’s study comes from Acts 8:18-24, as follows: ‘When Simon (who practiced sorcery in Samaria) saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of the wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Selwyn makes this comment about the above: Peter ‘who at one time was like a reed blown in the wind, is now as steady as a rock. His only concern is to serve the interests of Christ and His kingdom. … Peter and others in the Early Church stood out against the trends and ideas of their day because they marched to the beat of heaven’s music.’
His introduction to today’s study makes for a good summary: ‘Yesterday we commented that if those who belonged to the Early Church did not keep in step with the rest of society it was because they marched to the beat of a different drum. Our challenge in the Church of today is to pick up that beat and make a determined choice to follow it.
Why do you think that we are so far ’out of step’ in today’s Church – what, in your mind is the one single action we should do, to again move in time with the Holy Spirit’s heart beat?
Selwyn’s prayer for today is: ‘O God, I must ask myself: Would I have the courage to stand up for You if I found the laws of the world conflicted with Your laws? Help me, Father, if I am ever in that situation, and may I always be ready to put You first. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’
[Note: The next issue, 'The Blessed Life' starts on Saturday, if you are not able to get a copy in time you can always download a PDF file of the first week from the  'Every Day with Jesus' site.]
True nonconformity
The text which Selwyn uses for today’s study comes from Acts 8:18-24, as follows: ‘When Simon (who practiced sorcery in Samaria) saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of the wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Selwyn makes this comment about the above: Peter ‘who at one time was like a reed blown in the wind, is now as steady as a rock. His only concern is to serve the interests of Christ and His kingdom. … Peter and others in the Early Church stood out against the trends and ideas of their day because they marched to the beat of heaven’s music.’
His introduction to today’s study makes for a good summary: ‘Yesterday we commented that if those who belonged to the Early Church did not keep in step with the rest of society it was because they marched to the beat of a different drum. Our challenge in the Church of today is to pick up that beat and make a determined choice to follow it.
Why do you think that we are so far ’out of step’ in today’s Church – what, in your mind is the one single action we should do, to again move in time with the Holy Spirit’s heart beat?
Selwyn’s prayer for today is: ‘O God, I must ask myself: Would I have the courage to stand up for You if I found the laws of the world conflicted with Your laws? Help me, Father, if I am ever in that situation, and may I always be ready to put You first. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’
[Note: The next issue, 'The Blessed Life' starts on Saturday, if you are not able to get a copy in time you can always download a PDF file of the first week from the  'Every Day with Jesus' site.]