Devotionals for August 1, 2023
Don't forget! The deadline to sign up for Salt + Light Women's Conference is on August 6th. CLICK HERE to sign up now!
READ
Acts 19:18-20
18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 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. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Ephesians 4:22-24
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 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. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Ephesians 4:22-24
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
REFLECT
Here is where the rubber met the road so to speak with these new, Holy Spirit-filled believers in Jesus. They had a dark past, one of sorcery and all the things that came along with the practice of sorcery. Throughout the Bible God warns us to stay away from such things. Having this revelation led these former sorcerers to make a bold move. They publicly burned all their sorcery literature. In their new life in Christ, the monetary value of these items was now rubbish to them. They physically and mentally did what all of us should do. They turned away from their former way of life and put on a new self in order to be made new in attitude and thought. Putting off the old self publicly was a big deal. It changed their identity in the eyes of others. No longer were they to be called anything other than Spirit-filled followers of Jesus Christ. It is no different for us. There is no sitting on the fence. To be an effective witness for Jesus, we must get rid of our former life and fully embrace our new life in Jesus Christ.
APPLY
Q: What messages do you think the public burning of the sorcery scrolls sent to those who witnessed it?
Q: What in your former life still needs to be burned? What steps will you take to be renewed in this area?
Q: Who needs to hear about your personal journey of “turning away from your former life and putting on the new self”?
Q: What in your former life still needs to be burned? What steps will you take to be renewed in this area?
Q: Who needs to hear about your personal journey of “turning away from your former life and putting on the new self”?
SING
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
Search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and leads me along the path of everlasting life.
Search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and leads me along the path of everlasting life.