Acts 8:18-20
"And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, 'Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money.'"
By definition, a gift costs the receiver nothing. It is freely given and freely received, no strings attached. Otherwise, it is not a gift, but a bribe or a purchase or something other sort of transaction that has myself as the focus.
Of course, in today's "me, myself and I culture", choosing to do only what is best for me, it is almost impossible for one not to remember their own generosity. Surely we'll also get a gift as well when our birthdays roll around. You see people do this with Christmas cards. If a person sends one out and doesn't get one in return, they other person is cross off the list for the next year.
We've become fully ingrained with cause and effect thinking--I do this, than that must happen; results stem from actions. Simon was no different in his thinking. He saw the Holy Spirit was manifested on believers after the disciples laid hands on them, and being a practical man, offered to buy this ability to give the Spirit from the disciples. Simon had been making his living through sorcery, and surely having this ability as well would add to his livelihood.
But as Peter explains, the giving of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with our moneys, coming only as a gift of God. While we can't buy the Spirit's touch on our lives, we do need to understand this gift came at a great price – that of our Lord on Calvary. Likewise, it demands something costly in return – that of our very lives to Jesus Christ.
No doubt, Peter will tell us one day that it wasn't him who gave the Holy Spirit. The Spirit only comes from the Father at the request of Christ at the moment of our salvation. Sure, Peter had called forth a manifestation of the Spirit, but it was simply an unwrapping of the gift that had already been given.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the free gift of the Holy Spirit upon my life and commit myself back to you for all eternity. May my heart and mind never forget your sacrifice which made possible your presence. Amen.
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