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No Posing
John TiltonActs 19:13-16
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spiritstried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesuswhom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.15One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
Some of the Jews began “posing” as believers of Jesus Christ, empowered to heal people of evil spirits in His name; possibly to get the glory or recognition as Paul and the disciples. They may even have meant to do well. However, even the demons knew that the imposters were posing and were not true believers or empowered to heal in the name of Jesus Christ.
This is a good reminder of the importance of our relationship with Jesus Christ be authentic and genuine, even in our daily fellowship with Him through devotions and prayer. What we do not want to be or become are posers that say all the right Christian words and even do Christian things, but on the inside and with Jesus, not have a genuine and authentic relationship with Christ. The Bible has names such as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and “false prophets.” We sometimes look at these labels and say, not I. However, I ask myself how genuine and authentic am I in my relationship with Jesus.
Dear Jesus, may my relationship with you never become routine and thereby not authentic and genuine, less I be a “poser” and know you in name and routine only, rather than a deep relationship in love with you.
