In today’s text (Acts 19:8-20) contains many spiritual lessons. But one we cannot afford to miss is the lesson of repentance. What does real repentance look like? Is it enough to just confess our sins (1John 1:9)? Is it enough to feel badly about our behavior (2Cor 7:10)?

True repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change of mind that leads to a change of behavior. Read carefully the following portion of today’s text and see if the picture of real repentance becomes obvious to you.

“The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing magic brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.” Acts 19:17-19, NLT

The city of Ephesus was a center for occultism and magic. These “incantation books” were very acceptable and even greatly valued among the average resident of the city. Yet, those who got saved and turned to Christ knew that these practices could no longer coexist with their new lives in Christ. Thus, they repented to the point of not only repenting from sin, but even destroying the occult books so that Jesus Christ would rule as both Lord and Savior.

May we follow this example and turn from that which hinders or opposes Christ’s work in our lives.

Pastor Mike