7 Days of Meditation and Declarations for Every Son of GodSýnishorn

Put Your Wallet Away

Simon the Sorcerer had his wallet out. Having long been a celebrity magician in this Samaritan town, Simon was deeply impressed when Peter and John came to town and started praying for newly baptized followers of Jesus to receive the Holy Spirit. Miraculous signs seemed to accompany each of these prayers (Acts 8:9–20).

These spectacular wonders had everyone in the city buzzing with excitement. These were “tricks” the old trickster didn’t have in his repertoire. So, in a move prompted by a combination of envy and ambition, Simon approached the disciples of Jesus and offered them a sizeable chunk of cash if they’d show him how they were done.

Peter’s response was swift and furious: “Your money will go with you to destruction! How could you even think that you could purchase God’s supernatural gift with money?…Repent this moment for allowing such wickedness to fill you” (Acts 8:20, 22). Now, before you’re too quick to join Peter in condemning Simon, consider this: We’re transactional creatures by nature and by training. We’re conditioned from birth to view everything in terms of an exchange. We earn dessert for eating our veggies. We get an allowance for doing chores. Merchandise for money. Wages for work. Value for comparable value.

We’re comfortable with that because there’s a part of us that likes to feel we’ve earned what we’ve received. This explains why we tend to feel so uncomfortable when someone surprises us with a gift when we have nothing in return to give them. It’s humbling. And something deeply embedded in our old, fallen nature doesn’t want to be humbled. It’s no accident that pride drove both Lucifer’s fall and the very first human sin.

This also explains why so many of God’s people struggle to receive and experience the fullness of what Jesus died to provide for them. Relationship with God does not operate transactionally, even though we often approach Him as if it does. We think, If I do good for God, I’ll get good from God. That’s not living faith; that’s lifeless, transactional religion.

God does not ask us to pay an admission price. He simply bids us to come as we are. Jesus once depicted the kingdom of His Father as a feast to which messengers canvassed the highways and side streets, imploring everyone to come and dine.

Put your wallet away. Your place at the table is not for sale. In fact, trying to “pay” is the one thing that disqualifies you. It is freely offered to “whosoever will.”

Grace Declaration: Gracious Father, I will not insult You or Your great grace by attempting to “buy” with my meager means what You have offered as a wildly extravagant gift. I humbly and gratefully open my arms to receive what You long to give.