Dabblers Anonymous

Read Acts 18:23–21:14

13. A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”
14. Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.
15. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”
16. Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
17. 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. . . .
20. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. Acts 19:13-17, 20

“What are your personal goals?” a corporate interviewer asked the young man hoping for his first job. “Oh,” came the reply, “I’d like to dabble in sales.”

“What are your long-range interests?” an interviewer asked a young woman seeking admission to medical school. “Hmm,” she said, “I’d love to dabble in neurosurgery.”

Dabblers are casual hobbyists, not the people stockholders want running corporate operations and not the doctors most people choose. Spiritual dabblers are hobbyists, too, and if you think a casual neurosurgeon is dangerous, note what can happen because of these folks. Some ideas are too important to dabble with, and some are too dangerous—especially those tied to the occult.

Also look for the tale of poor Eutychus. He should have left at intermission, or called for one.

The city of Ephesus was a center for black magic and other occult practices. Some professionals made a living inventing and promoting magical formulas for wealth, happiness, and success in marriage. Most Ephesians followed superstitions and practiced sorcery. But those who believed in Christ renounced these sins and burned their occult implements in a public bonfire (Acts 19:18-19).

God clearly forbids sorcery and occult practices (see Deuteronomy 18:9-14). You cannot follow Christ and dabble in the occult, black magic, or sorcery. God’s power is greater than Satan’s (see 1 John 4:4; Revelation 20:10). Once you begin to engage in these evils superficially, however, you invite Satan to draw you in even further.

If you tend to dabble in the occult, learn a lesson from the Ephesians, and get rid of anything that could keep you trapped in such practices.