But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 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.”
Acts 8:20-23

This guy, Simon the Magician, was a performer. He had become a believer and was a member of the church, but his heart wasn’t right with God. He still had the mindset of the world in which he had been living.

He saw the preaching, the teaching and the prayers that Philip and the Apostles were doing, and even the miracles that came in answer to their prayers, as performance. He offered to pay, if they would teach him the trick.

That’s not how it works in God’s Kingdom. Peter saw into Simon’s heart and called him to repent and seek God’s forgiveness.

A bitter heart gives us a twisted, perverted idea of religion. That’s a terrible thing, because this isn’t a game, and it isn’t showmanship; it’s real.

When I start to think that I can earn my way with God or try to impress other people with my religious performance, my heart isn’t right. Until I abandon all of that and humbly seek Him with genuine repentance and faith, I’m on the way to Hell, not Heaven. My religion is false. “May your silver perish with you,” Peter told him. (What a terrible thing to have to say, but it had to be said.)

Lord, keep me from becoming bitter in my heart. Keep me from a perverted understanding of religion. Cleanse my heart and keep it right with You, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles