Prayer Practice
Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
The Spirit Cannot Be Deceived
by Kelsey Bacon
What a striking and somewhat scary little passage today's reading is! It's kind of hard to read this passage and not be taken aback by the quick, fierce punishment that was given both Ananias and Sapphira--especially when we know that we have lied, have kept the best for ourselves, have sinned in similar ways. Reading this passage shocks me a little bit, which is exactly what the real-life story did to the early Christians, and exactly what God meant it to do.
If you look at the text right before Ananias and Sapphira's story, you'll see a lovely, feel-good passage about the church uniting as one, giving everything they have and laying at the apostles' feet to be passed around to the poor. This is partly why the story of Ananias and Sapphira is so striking, because it comes just after this beautiful picture of God's kingdom at work. And that picture is a big contrast compared to the husband and wife who told everyone they donated every last penny when really they had kept some back for themselves.
Imagine if Ananias and Sapphira had gotten away with it, if some of the less committed church members realized what they had done, and realized what they themselves could do. The beginnings of the church would be built on lies and deception, rather than on truth, generosity, and community in the way God intended it. The punishment of immediate, on the spot death seems harsh, but God knew that he could not allow those kinds of actions in his church, especially at this most important beginning moment. And he wouldn't allow people to believe that the Spirit could be deceived--that in itself would be a deception.
I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time someone was smote before my eyes, so how does God deal with this kind of deception today? How do we keep ourselves in check when we're tempted to lie, deceive, or keep the best for ourselves? Well the honest answer is, we're terrible at this on our own. We can't keep from sinning without the Holy Spirit. As you reflect today on this passage, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal in your heart the ways that you lie in your life, or the ways that you put yourself first rather than putting others first. Put those things before God, ask for his forgiveness, and ask for his healing hand to change your heart.
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