Good day dear friends.
It's been almost fourteen (14) hours and Nellie and Sarai are still in the Houston city limits! Please pray for their patience and protection as they've finally made it onto I-10 and are making their way back to San Marcos. Pray for Eric and all of the public safety personnel that have stayed on the island of Galveston. Pray for courtesy to reign in the hearts and steering wheels of those making the exodus. Sarai says that folks just don't want to let them back onto the freeway and it takes one courteous person to finally let them back on. As you can imagine store owners have been rude and reluctant to let folks use their bathrooms. Gas is at a premium and hard to find. Radio reports say that once they get to Columbus the travel speeds up a bit. Pray for those who have chosen to ride out the storm.
We ask prayers for the Holtermann family on the death of Emma Holtermann. Pray for Nellie, who undergoes major surgery tomorrow here at CTMC. This has added to the stress of being in a parking lot.
We continue our stewardship studies based on the Skittles Friendly environment. Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: In Acts 5:1-11 we find a frightening story. Read that story and compare that with verse 9 of Malachi 4. The word “curse” is, as we discussed Sunday, more a consequence than it is a direct bad action from God towards us. If you had been present at this event how would you have reacted? Would you have been among the ones who “had all things in common,” or among those that hadn’t yet committed (like Ananias and Sapphira)? How are you living now?
Here is that passage from NRSV:
Acts 5:1 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 "Ananias," Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!" 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price." 9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.
This passage comes immediately after we read that the new believers were "of one heart and soul." United in their faith of Christ Jesus, these folks held nothing back from God and from each other. Among that group is this married couple who for selfish reasons decide they will do like the rest in selling their possessions and report back only a part of the sale to keep some of the proceeds for themselves. Was this a violation of the common spirit of having "all things in common?" Was this in keeping faithful fellowship? Their option was to keep their property for themselves or to sell their property and kept all the money. But to try and decieve God and the Christian fellowship was another matter. These two tried to have the both of both worlds: charity and selfishness and as they soon found out, these two do not work. One is either lovingly charitable or one is self-centered and selfish. To be a Christian is to be one wholeheartedly committed to Christ and Christ's church. To be a part of the fellowship is to vow to be among those who will support every part of the work of Christ and not to hold back in the name of taking care of themselves or their family. Their death was a result of the consequences they knew they were risking by trying to fool God and God's people. Both fell dead in the presence of the believers.
Even today, though we think such a thing of people falling dead could not happen, we do see there are both kinds of folks. Those who very lovingly towards God commit themselves and all that they have for the good of God's work among us. These are the givers and tithers. And we also have those who have a list of reasons why they cannot tithe or even give beyond a "tip." These are they who think they are fooling God and the Church. These are the one who may find the consequences of their actions a surprising thing.
Friends, if we pledge/vow to be a Christian and a member of God's church, let's take seriously our vows. If you can't follow the vows then be in prayer about changing your attitude and coming to the place where you very honestly know God wants you to be. It's your call.
PRAYER: God of truth, speak to us as we need to come face to face with who we are. Let us be the persons whom you want us to be. Let us with joy and love live the Christian life. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
