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- Oct 26, 2007
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The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God!" Acts 5:4 NLT
Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, were under no obligation to give anything to the Jerusalem church. Though the early believers shared freely, no one was pressured to give up ownership of personal property or to tithe a certain amount of each sale. Still, because of greed or vanity, Ananias and Sapphira choose to falsify the size of their gift. That premeditated sin brought severe judgment upon their heads.
Ananias and Sapphira were not judged for their lack of generosity. Instead, they were judged for trying to deceive God. They presented their gift as something very different than what it actually was.
You and I may be inclined to overlook a lie, judging its severity by the perceived damage that’s been done. But every lie is in reality a bold statement of unbelief against the omniscient Lord God.
Someone well may try to fool other believers, but who in his right mind would try to deceive the all-seeing and all-knowing Lord?
Unlike Ananias and his wife, let’s make a point of telling the truth to God and others.
Prayer: Lord, I wince to think how many lies I’ve told. Please forgive me. Make me an honest man.
Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, were under no obligation to give anything to the Jerusalem church. Though the early believers shared freely, no one was pressured to give up ownership of personal property or to tithe a certain amount of each sale. Still, because of greed or vanity, Ananias and Sapphira choose to falsify the size of their gift. That premeditated sin brought severe judgment upon their heads.
Ananias and Sapphira were not judged for their lack of generosity. Instead, they were judged for trying to deceive God. They presented their gift as something very different than what it actually was.
You and I may be inclined to overlook a lie, judging its severity by the perceived damage that’s been done. But every lie is in reality a bold statement of unbelief against the omniscient Lord God.
Someone well may try to fool other believers, but who in his right mind would try to deceive the all-seeing and all-knowing Lord?
Unlike Ananias and his wife, let’s make a point of telling the truth to God and others.
Prayer: Lord, I wince to think how many lies I’ve told. Please forgive me. Make me an honest man.
