Acts 5:2
“and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
There is a clear and dramatic contrast here between two men. At the end of chapter four, we meet Barnabas (Son of encouragement) and here we meet Ananias (God is gracious). Barnabas lives up to his name, and Ananias does not, and dies as a result. The contrast is between a man full of the Holy Spirit, and a man full of himself.
We are to be
Guided by the
Holy Spirit
Not our
Selfish desires
Most of the problems in this world come from trying to “look” the part, instead of “being” the part. Jesus named this hypocrisy. Simply meaning wearing a mask to portray someone else in a play. We play the part on social media, with our house, cars and kids. We cannot go on playing something we are not, but must be filled by the Spirit of God, to be who we were created to be. The decision is to be continually filled with the spirit of God, or go on being selfish. Father God, I admit the temptation to be selfish is in my face at every turn in the road. Help me to identify what is self gratifying and what is submission to You. Help me to choose Your path today, and not my way. Fill me with Your Spirit, and continue to help me submit to Your Word, Your will and Your way, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ACTION: Submit