“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” – Acts 19:19
When God graciously gives us new life through faith in His Son Jesus, it’s truly meant to be new life. Completely new. That means there are aspects of each of our lives that we’re each called to get rid of because they don’t please Lord Jesus. That may well include things that are very precious to us and very much part of how we previously identified ourselves.
In Ephesus, many were coming to saving faith in Jesus. Their new life in Christ compelled them to reject their old practices and possessions associated with performing magic. Though they’d been practicing sorcery for many years, made money from it, and found power and status in it, there is no place for sorcery in their lives as followers of Jesus. Rather than keep the temptation around, they burned their precious spell books and were glad to do it, because they’d received new life and the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit in them!
When we choose Jesus, it must not be a half-hearted choice of divide loyalty. We can’t truly follow Jesus while also holding onto those things about our old lives that we enjoy but which disobey Him. Faith in Jesus means a new heart, new passions, new loyalties, and new identity. For every believer in Jesus!
Take time today to assess your loyalties. Are you holding onto a habit, pattern, hobby, or practice that goes against God’s will and design? Are you still doing things that reflect divided loyalty between Jesus and the things of the world? If you are, stop making excuses for it! Stop trying to explain it away. Do like the Ephesians and decisively cut all ties to your past sinful practice or lifestyle to fully follow Jesus!