STE:SIMON'S HEART

   I would like you to meet Simon. He calls himself a magician. You
will notice that he will not look you in the eyes. That is because he
is afraid of people. The only way that he feels comfortable with you is
if he can get you to think that he is someone important. For a long
time he has been telling people that he has the power of God. He has
been tricked by the devil into thinking that he can do magic.

   Not too long ago, something happened which made Simon's magic look
very weak. God sent his preacher, Phillip, to teach the people about
Jesus. It had been very hard for Simon, but he had to admit that he
didn't have God's power when he saw it changing the lives of his
neighbours. That day he took an important step and asked God to save
him. He confessed to the Lord that he needed his power. It must have
been very hard for him to admit that God was more important than
himself.

   Today something is happening that is tempting Simon to try to be
important again. He sees God's power working through another preacher,
Peter, in a special way. Simon can't resist the temptation. There he
goes, running down the street to his house. I wonder what he is going
to do? Here he comes running back again with a bag full of money. What
is he doing now? I can't believe it! He is trying to give the money to
Peter so that he can buy the power of God!

   Did you see how Peter answered him, so roughly? Look at how Simon is
kneeling in the street and looking down at the ground. Now he is
ashamed because he never thought of what a foolish thing he was doing.
God is showing Simon what is inside of his heart. The Lord has to show
everyone what is inside their heart so they can know the difference
between what is important and what is not.

   Taken from Acts 8
