And many who had believed came confessing and telling their
deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought
their books together and burned them in the sight of all.
And they counted up the value of them, and
it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
(Acts 19:18-19)
Thoughts… Powerful signs and great wonders attended Paul’s extended ministry in Ephesus. (Verses 11-12) Sick people were healed even by his handkerchief being placed on them, and the demonized were set free in dramatic fashion.
As you might imagine with such a demonstration of Kingdom power, a great number of people in this major city of Asia Minor came to know Jesus Christ. The number of converts was so large in fact that it began to affect the thriving idol making industry in Ephesus—which didn’t make the idol makers all too happy. (Verses 25-27)
One group of these Ephesians who turned to Christ were those who practiced sorcery. We are told that there was such strong conviction they brought their incantation books and publicly burned them. Someone at the scene figured out the total value of the books and placed it at fifty thousand pieces of silver—a figure by today’s worth that would be in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.
Now that is repentance! When those who come to Christ are willing to put their livelihoods on the line and burn the tools of their trade, you know that real inner transformation has taken place. These sorcerers had experienced a true change of heart, mind and behavior.
And that is what Biblical repentance is all about. It is not just feeling bad over wrongdoing. It is not feeling embarrassed that you have been caught, or fear that you might. It is not just saying, “I’m sorry.” It is a literal 180-degree change in thinking and acting. The Greek word for repentance means exactly that: Change.
Keep that in mind the next time you are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When repentance is in order for a wrong attitude, hurtful words, destructive behavior, or just plain old sin, Biblical repentance calls you to completely turn from it in heart, mind and behavior.
That’s true repentance. And that’s what the Father wants from us.
Prayer… Lord, search my heart and bring to light any sin that I have committed. Here and now I commit to repenting of anything that stands in the way of my love for you and obedience to your will.
One More Thing… “Wherever there is a pulverized and penitent heart, there grace also is, and wherever there is a voluntary confession not gained by pressure, there love covereth a multitude of sins.” —Menno Simons
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