TUESDAY - JUNE 23

Read. Acts 5:1-11
However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. He brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles. 3 Peter asked, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land?4 Wasn’t that property yours to keep? After you sold it, wasn’t the money yours to do with whatever you wanted? What made you think of such a thing? You haven’t lied to other people but to God!” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified. 6 Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.

7 About three hours later, his wife entered, but she didn’t know what had happened to her husband. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you and your husband receive this price for the field?”
She responded, “Yes, that’s the amount.”
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9 He replied, “How could you scheme with each other to challenge the Lord’s Spirit? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too.” 10 At that very moment, she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men entered and found her dead, they carried her out and buried her with her husband. 11 Trepidation and dread seized the whole church and all who heard what had happened.

Reflect. This is a hard passage in the Bible to read. Many think that there is a dividing line between the Old Testament and the New Testament, yet here we have this story surrounding the birth of the early church. If we were not walking through the book of Acts, I (Pastor Will) would probably like to ignore this passage. 

• What feelings come to mind as you read this text? What questions does this text make you think of? Do you see yourself in this story? What do you see as the sin of Ananias and Sapphira? Imagine you were in the early church at this point. In verse 11, it says that “trepidation and dread seized the whole church,” what do you think this was like? What questions would you want to ask the leaders?
• At first it seems that their sin is that they withheld their money; however, in verse 4, Peter makes it clear that they could have kept the property or the money. Peter describes their sin as a “lie to the Holy Spirit.” They accepted the honor given to them by the community because of their supposed generosity, yet they were not deserving of it because of their lie. 
• Sometimes we see stories that aren’t so good or so happy included in the Bible. In this, we find that those that formed the early church or those that followed God long ago made mistakes and things didn’t always go right. The Bible doesn’t try to hide this; instead, the Bible gives us a look as things are even when they are unflattering. How do you feel about this story? Why do you think it was included in the Bible? Does this story leave you with any lingering questions? 

Pray. God, sometimes I read things in the Bible that confuse me or trouble me. Help me to see your face in the midst of the confusion. Help me, today, to live a transparent life full of your love. Amen.

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST


Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Terry Kibler. Carolyn Harlow