“When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.” Acts 5:5.
Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, lied to Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of some land that they owned. When confronted by this by Peter, Ananias collapsed on the ground dead. We don’t know what caused the death, whether it was a heart attack from the shock of being exposed to their deception, or just what. But this much we do know: he fell down dead.
And then this verse indicates that “great fear seized all who heard what had happened.” It isn’t clear whether the “all” in this verse are people in this early Christian community or in Jerusalem, at large. Regardless, this man’s death under these conditions struck fear in the minds and hearts of those who heard about it. At first reflection, I thought that, if I had been one who heard about this, I, too, would have had a strong sense of awe, wonder, and fear at this situation. Upon further thought, though, I realized that God is just as active in our world today as He was in those days with that early community. The problem is not with God; it is with me.
How much do I take life, and the “normal” goings on of it, for granted? This man died suddenly. I honestly do not believe that he thought that his life was so fragile. Otherwise, he and his wife would have done things differently.
Questions to consider: How much do I take life for granted? What do I understand “the fear of the Lord” to be? How fragile is life to me, and how does that affect the way that I live my life?
Prayer: Father, help me not to take You for granted. And help me to look to You with a healthy dose of awe and fear, knowing that You are God and I am not. Amen.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
March 20, 2008 - Hebrews 12:2
“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2.
We celebrate Easter this Sunday. It is the joyous remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It is truly an amazing day! To realize that, in this day, God’s rescue plan for all humanity, and indeed for all creation, was culminated in the incredible moment when Jesus was raised from the dead. Three days before the resurrection, Jesus was brought to trial, found guilty of trumped-up charges, was crucified, and was buried. And all of this was on the physical, “earthly” level. In the spiritual dimension, all hell was unleashed on Jesus during His crucifixion. And He conquered it!
Today, we celebrate that Jesus came through the ultimate hell and was raised to new life. It was God’s ultimate plan that allowed Jesus to be the first of many that would begin to experience His kingdom here on earth.
I must confess that I would like to skip the “hell” part and go right to the resurrection part, but that does not seem to be part of the plan. If Jesus was indeed “the pioneer and perfecter,” leading the way by His personal example, then we must go through a similar “dying” in order to experience His resurrected life. Again, I would prefer to skip the suffering part and go straight to the victorious part. Yet, for our own good, He has another way. According to Paul, I must die in this life (2 Corinthians 5:17). I must “endure my own cross,” with its shame (Galatians 2:20) – in order to more deeply appreciate and celebrate His victory through the resurrection from the dead. That deepens my sense of awe, celebration, and worship at Jesus’ resurrection!
Questions to consider: How do I want to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter? Am I willing to embrace the cross that Jesus has for me to bear in order to more fully appreciate and celebrate His kingdom victory in our world?
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for raising Jesus from the dead, and for rescuing your creation from death and destruction through our disobedience. Give me the courage to embrace the cross, and go through that which You would have me bear, in order that I would more deeply appreciate Your resurrection power. Amen.
Joyous Easter to each of you!
We celebrate Easter this Sunday. It is the joyous remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It is truly an amazing day! To realize that, in this day, God’s rescue plan for all humanity, and indeed for all creation, was culminated in the incredible moment when Jesus was raised from the dead. Three days before the resurrection, Jesus was brought to trial, found guilty of trumped-up charges, was crucified, and was buried. And all of this was on the physical, “earthly” level. In the spiritual dimension, all hell was unleashed on Jesus during His crucifixion. And He conquered it!
Today, we celebrate that Jesus came through the ultimate hell and was raised to new life. It was God’s ultimate plan that allowed Jesus to be the first of many that would begin to experience His kingdom here on earth.
I must confess that I would like to skip the “hell” part and go right to the resurrection part, but that does not seem to be part of the plan. If Jesus was indeed “the pioneer and perfecter,” leading the way by His personal example, then we must go through a similar “dying” in order to experience His resurrected life. Again, I would prefer to skip the suffering part and go straight to the victorious part. Yet, for our own good, He has another way. According to Paul, I must die in this life (2 Corinthians 5:17). I must “endure my own cross,” with its shame (Galatians 2:20) – in order to more deeply appreciate and celebrate His victory through the resurrection from the dead. That deepens my sense of awe, celebration, and worship at Jesus’ resurrection!
Questions to consider: How do I want to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter? Am I willing to embrace the cross that Jesus has for me to bear in order to more fully appreciate and celebrate His kingdom victory in our world?
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for raising Jesus from the dead, and for rescuing your creation from death and destruction through our disobedience. Give me the courage to embrace the cross, and go through that which You would have me bear, in order that I would more deeply appreciate Your resurrection power. Amen.
Joyous Easter to each of you!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
March 13, 2008 - Heb. 12:2a.
For the next two weeks, I am taking a break from going through the Acts of the Apostles in order to reflect briefly on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame…” Hebrews 12:2a.
Jesus had set his eyes as a laser toward Jerusalem, and the cross that He knew that He must endure. He knew full well the gruesomeness and brutality of Roman execution, and knew that it was through this horrible “valley of pain” that He was to travel. He also knew that His disciples, who followed Him through this experience, would, willingly, follow His example in the years to come.
The worst that Jesus must endure was not just the horrible tortures inflicted on Him by the Romans. Nor was it the “torture” of rejection by His own people, the Jews, for whom He had come to usher in the good news of God’s kingdom. No, the worst that Jesus was to endure was absolute separation from His Father, with whom He enjoyed a constant, intimate relationship. He had never experienced the rejection of His Father, but in those hours on the cross, He had to endure what must have such horrible separation as His Father turned away from Him. For He "who knew no sin" was "made to be sin on our behalf." 2Cor. 5:21, NAS. For it was in those moments that the scorn and darkness of the sin of all humanity came upon Jesus, and pressed down on Him, as He hung there – naked, broken, and vulnerable.
As I write these words, tears role down my cheeks at the amazing sacrifice of the One – the Only One – who did not deserve this treatment. I am the one who deserved it! And yet, He took it for me, for you, and for all humanity for all time. As the writer of Hebrews says, let’s “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Please take time to look at and reflect on the incredible sacrifice that He made. And, also, take some time to reflect on the example that He gave us. He “endured the cross, scorning its shame” not only to provide the perfect sacrifice, but, also, to lead the way, by example, of how we are to live sacrificially for His kingdom’s sake. He is our leader and our example! Fix our eyes on Jesus!
Questions to consider: How does Jesus’ sacrifice affect and impact your life? How are you following, or are going to follow, His example? How is Jesus calling you to live?
Prayer: Father, I am humbled at the sacrifice that You made in order to rescue me and to rescue all of humanity. Please give me insight to know how I should now live in response to that sacrifice. Please give me the courage necessary to live sacrificially for You in being part of Your rescue mission. Amen.
“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame…” Hebrews 12:2a.
Jesus had set his eyes as a laser toward Jerusalem, and the cross that He knew that He must endure. He knew full well the gruesomeness and brutality of Roman execution, and knew that it was through this horrible “valley of pain” that He was to travel. He also knew that His disciples, who followed Him through this experience, would, willingly, follow His example in the years to come.
The worst that Jesus must endure was not just the horrible tortures inflicted on Him by the Romans. Nor was it the “torture” of rejection by His own people, the Jews, for whom He had come to usher in the good news of God’s kingdom. No, the worst that Jesus was to endure was absolute separation from His Father, with whom He enjoyed a constant, intimate relationship. He had never experienced the rejection of His Father, but in those hours on the cross, He had to endure what must have such horrible separation as His Father turned away from Him. For He "who knew no sin" was "made to be sin on our behalf." 2Cor. 5:21, NAS. For it was in those moments that the scorn and darkness of the sin of all humanity came upon Jesus, and pressed down on Him, as He hung there – naked, broken, and vulnerable.
As I write these words, tears role down my cheeks at the amazing sacrifice of the One – the Only One – who did not deserve this treatment. I am the one who deserved it! And yet, He took it for me, for you, and for all humanity for all time. As the writer of Hebrews says, let’s “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Please take time to look at and reflect on the incredible sacrifice that He made. And, also, take some time to reflect on the example that He gave us. He “endured the cross, scorning its shame” not only to provide the perfect sacrifice, but, also, to lead the way, by example, of how we are to live sacrificially for His kingdom’s sake. He is our leader and our example! Fix our eyes on Jesus!
Questions to consider: How does Jesus’ sacrifice affect and impact your life? How are you following, or are going to follow, His example? How is Jesus calling you to live?
Prayer: Father, I am humbled at the sacrifice that You made in order to rescue me and to rescue all of humanity. Please give me insight to know how I should now live in response to that sacrifice. Please give me the courage necessary to live sacrificially for You in being part of Your rescue mission. Amen.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
March 6, 2008 - Acts 5:3
“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?’” Acts 5:3.
Some of the early followers of Jesus, who could afford it, sold some of their land or houses and gave the proceeds to the disciples for distribution to those in need. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, did this with one of their properties, giving only part of the proceeds to the disciples and holding back some for themselves in what appeared to be with some deceit. It seems that Peter knows that they did this through the activity of the Holy Spirit, and he confronts Ananias with the situation, adding that he and his wife did not just lie to people, but that they lied to the Holy Spirit of God.
It seems to me that it would have been okay for this couple to hold some of the proceeds from the sale of their property for their own use, except for at least one thing – they hid their intentions from the leadership and the Holy Spirit. It would be fairly easy to hide something from other people. Heck, we seem to do this type of thing all the time! But “hiding” something from the Holy Spirit is quite another thing. It is quite like Adam and Eve trying to hide from God in the Garden of Eden after they ate of the forbidden fruit. There was no way that they could actually do it, and neither was there any way that Ananias and Sapphira could hide.
As I reflected on this, I realize that there are many ways that I try to “hide” from God. (And I must say that I am so thankful that I have not been dealt with like these two!) Since it is tax season, it can be a temptation to “hide” the facts and lower my taxes. After all, the government will never know, and, besides, they waste so much, and …… Isn’t it easy to justify ourselves and our actions!
Questions to consider: Is there any area that you are attempting to “hide” from God? Is there anything that you are holding back or withholding from God? What would He have you do?
Prayer: God, help me to come into the open in all areas of my life. Help me to live before you with a clean heart, seeking to be genuine and free before You. Amen.
Some of the early followers of Jesus, who could afford it, sold some of their land or houses and gave the proceeds to the disciples for distribution to those in need. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, did this with one of their properties, giving only part of the proceeds to the disciples and holding back some for themselves in what appeared to be with some deceit. It seems that Peter knows that they did this through the activity of the Holy Spirit, and he confronts Ananias with the situation, adding that he and his wife did not just lie to people, but that they lied to the Holy Spirit of God.
It seems to me that it would have been okay for this couple to hold some of the proceeds from the sale of their property for their own use, except for at least one thing – they hid their intentions from the leadership and the Holy Spirit. It would be fairly easy to hide something from other people. Heck, we seem to do this type of thing all the time! But “hiding” something from the Holy Spirit is quite another thing. It is quite like Adam and Eve trying to hide from God in the Garden of Eden after they ate of the forbidden fruit. There was no way that they could actually do it, and neither was there any way that Ananias and Sapphira could hide.
As I reflected on this, I realize that there are many ways that I try to “hide” from God. (And I must say that I am so thankful that I have not been dealt with like these two!) Since it is tax season, it can be a temptation to “hide” the facts and lower my taxes. After all, the government will never know, and, besides, they waste so much, and …… Isn’t it easy to justify ourselves and our actions!
Questions to consider: Is there any area that you are attempting to “hide” from God? Is there anything that you are holding back or withholding from God? What would He have you do?
Prayer: God, help me to come into the open in all areas of my life. Help me to live before you with a clean heart, seeking to be genuine and free before You. Amen.
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