Acts 5:1-11
Reflect
What does true grace look like? We live in a world that, sadly, has assumed that grace means ‘loving someone in spite of who they are and what they do’ while self-acceptance and self-expression are the ultimate aim. As much as our culture wants to project the idea that “God loves me the way I am,” this is sadly not the way the Bible introduces us to grace. On the contrary--God loves us TOO MUCH to leave us like we are. He loves us in a radical way, and His grace is His power in us to transform us into the image of Christ. Today we read a troubling story of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple claimed they were giving the entire proceeds from the sale of their land to the church, but they were outright lying. Testing God and seeking to inflate their own self-image, they ‘did what felt good to them.’ We know what happened; they were killed for their sin. I think this story shows us that, 1) God takes sin seriously, and 2) the foundation of the early church was to be one of transformation into Christlikeness rather than sin.
Apply
What are some areas of your life where God’s grace, His power in you to walk in freedom, is inviting you to transformation? How is God inviting you to truly love and extend His grace to others today--not to simply watch them continue on in sin, but to come alongside them on a journey of Christlikeness?
Pastor Daunavan
Pray
- Pray for our Lead Team Pastor, Terry Okken.
- Pray for our Children’s Ministry Assistant, Kyla Mould.
- Pray for Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Assistant.
- Pray for all our small group leaders.
- Pray for the ministry of International Student Ministries.