Annanias and Saphira

I just read the account of Annanias and Saphira and it made me wonder what my motives are for giving and serving. Do I do it to lay up treasure in heaven. Am I doing it in thankfulness for all the Jesus has done for me or am I doing it because it's expected of me? Am I doing it to look good to those around me? Are my motives pure. Is God pleased with my giving or does he see ulterior motives?

 
 

Lord, help me to give generously. Help me to give from a true heart of love. Help me to serve You for your glory.

Obey God or Man

Peter and John had just healed a lame man in the temple and it got the attention of many people, but of course, the priests and Pharisees were jealous. So, they put Peter and John in jail. After calling them for a trial, they decided to let them go with the strict command not to preach any more in the name of Jesus. When Peter heard this, he made his famous bold statement, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." What an amazing testimony! Peter was willing to risk his life to obey God rather than the religious leaders of his day.

 
 

I've never had to risk my life to obey God. Yet, I've been tempted to disobey God for fleeting pleasure or to gain popularity or because of peer pressure: such trifling things compared to what Peter faced. Lord, help me to faithfully obey You no matter what. Help me to stand firm on Your commandments no matter what other people will thing of me. Give me strength to withstand whatever temptations come my way. Help me like Peter to remember that it's much better to obey God than man.

 
 

Where the Lord is Working, So is Satan

In the first several chapters of the book of Acts, the Church was experiencing tremendous growth. The work of the Lord was going forward. God's army was on the march. By the power of God, Peter and John had healed a lame man. This offered them a great opportunity to preach Jesus, but wherever the Lord is working, Satan is trying to stop the work. It didn't take long for the religious leaders to come and put the apostles in prison. The battle was on. Who would win? It was only a continuation of the epic battle between good and evil, between God and Satan. This time it was between true Christians and the established religious people of the day.

 
 

This battle takes many different forms. So, what can we learn from it. First, we need to be absolutely sure that we are on the right side. Satan is very deceptive. There have been many people who have thought that they were on the right side only to find out that they were fighting God. The apostle Paul is an example. God saw that he was sincerely trying to do right and He helped Paul get his life on the right track. Let's be sincerely serving God to the best of our ability today so that God can guide us to an even closer walk with Him and God's kingdom can grow.

What Has the Holy Spirit Done in my Life?

I've just read the beginning of Acts 2 and I was again amazed by the power displayed at the first coming of the Holy Spirit. There was the sound of a mighty wind, tongues of fire, and preaching that could be heard in multiple languages at once. What an amazing display of power! It then made me wonder, do I allow the Spirit to work in my life as powerfully as He would like? Am I limiting the power of God in my life. What more could I be doing for God if I would only follow His leading. There was no wind and fire when I received the Holy Spirit, but did I allow that wind to cleanse my heart and was I set on fire for God? Am I still on fire for God, or am I only smoldering?

 
 

Lord, revive the fire in my life. Help me not to grow cold in my Christian life. Help me to boldly reach others for You. Help me to be ready to share a word for You. Help me not to be ashamed to be a Christian. May my life be a reflection of Christ, my Master.

Am I Ashamed of Jesus Christ?

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/4125.mp3

God Answers Prayer

God answers prayer and many times, He goes above and beyond what we were even asking for. In Acts 12:5, Peter was in prison. The other disciples had gathered together to pray for him. Likely they prayed that he would remain faithful until death which seemed imminent. It doesn't seem that they were praying for his deliverance, because when he came to the door or where they were praying, they didn't even believe it was him. God is amazing! He can do more than we are able to ask or think.

 
 

Lord help me to never doubt your abilities. Help me to pray and believe that You will answer. Help me to be willing to take whatever answer to prayer you give. Help me to trust my life to you completely and then stand back and be amazed by what You can do.

Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace

Heb 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

KJV

We are here instructed to come boldly to the throne of grace. Why? Because we can trust in the way of salvation that Jesus has opened for us. It has nothing to do with our merit. We have nothing in ourselves that we can feel proud of. Jesus didn't see any merit in us that caused Him to provide us a way to be saved. It's only by His saving grace that we have this wonderful opportunity. So, we can come boldly, but will He here and understand our needs? We are allowed to petition the Almighty God of the Universe, but can he understand our trifling needs and troubles? Of course! He has created us. He understands us better than we understand ourselves. He even suffered just as we do during His life here on earth. He knows what we're feeling and He wants to help us. Al we need to do is ask.

 
 

Lord, help me to avail myself of the wonderful privilege to come to you. Help me to come to You often. Help me to be humbled by Your greatness and by Your willingness to condescend to listen to the prayers of Your people. Thank You for listening and help me to learn to speak. Help me, even more to learn to listen when You speak.