PODCAST
Honesty Before God
September 22nd, 2014
Acts 5:1-11
According to 19th-century Christian writer George MacDonald, “Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.” Jesus called this “hypocrisy,” which simply means “wearing a mask, or playing the actor.”
It is easy for us to condemn Ananias and Sapphira for their deception. We must keep in mind, however, that their sin was not in robbing God–they were not required to sell their property or to give the money to the church (v. 4). Their sin was in trying to deceive God and their fellow believers.
After their deaths, a wave of godly fear swept over the church and over all those who heard their story (v. 11). Likewise, we need to see if our profession is backed up by our practice. Let’s live lives of openness and honesty before God so our church can experience God’s great grace and power.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire,’” (Heb. 12:28–29).
Author: David Graves
