Jan. 29, 2014

Acts 5:   ^4 "Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold a plot of land.  They kept some of the money for themselves, and they misrepresented the price, so that everyone would think they had donated all the proceeds to the apostles. 

On the one hand, I can relate to this couple.  They wanted to be sure they had a little money "for a rainy day."  But lying about it?  Now that is just not cool.  They have misrepresented themselves as the sort of people who give it all, but they knew they were holding back.  And how could they have faith, if they thought that God wouldn't know what they had done.  They were all about appearances.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be pure.  I don't want to be well-regarded, knowing that I am sinful.  I want to represent myself and You as an honest and humble follower of Your son, Christ.  Help me to see when I am going astray.  Keep my words and actions Christlike.
Amen