“Pray for me to the Lord.”

Acts 8:14-25, Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Even though Simon had become a believer and been baptized, there was more healing that needed to take place in his life. Simon had only the common desire to have whatever he wanted by paying cash and Peter shows him that he is bound up in bitterness and iniquity! We can’t always see our own situation; we need others in community to help us, and to pray for us. Simon receives this correction from Peter and even asks for prayer! We love the idea of receiving the Holy Spirit; are we also willing to receive His conviction and repent?

Come, Holy Spirit, heal our blindness to our own great needs for Your healing touch that we may repent and turn more each day towards Jesus!

ESV Lectionary