Acts 5
Acts 4:32-5:11 gives us two examples - one positive (Barnabas) and one negative (Ananias and Sapphira) - of how we are to approach our faith in terms of walking the walk. Barnabas gave cheerfully and humbly while Ananias and Sapphira gave to gain status and recognition for themselves - John Piper posts about their hypocrisy here and warns believers about phony Christians:
"The reason [Ananias and Sapphira] drop dead is to give a stunning warning to the whole church that phony Christians will all end up this way, sooner or later."
We must be as James writes doers of the Word..
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and treats us with amazing grace - I am grateful for such grace and more - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such grace and blessings. I worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. v2
Acts 4:32-5:11 gives us two examples - one positive (Barnabas) and one negative (Ananias and Sapphira) - of how we are to approach our faith in terms of walking the walk. Barnabas gave cheerfully and humbly while Ananias and Sapphira gave to gain status and recognition for themselves - John Piper posts about their hypocrisy here and warns believers about phony Christians:
"The reason [Ananias and Sapphira] drop dead is to give a stunning warning to the whole church that phony Christians will all end up this way, sooner or later."
We must be as James writes doers of the Word..
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and treats us with amazing grace - I am grateful for such grace and more - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such grace and blessings. I worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
