Watch Over My Heart
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Acts 4:32-37; Acts 5:1-11 and Psalm 6:1-10 (NIV)
(Sim Bee Leng, Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Acts 4:32-37; Acts 5:1-11 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Acts 4:32-37 document the communal life among the early Christians in Jerusalem, evident in the way they shared their resources with one other. Some of these believers, including a Levite from the island of Cyprus named Barnabas, even sold their land or houses, and gave the money to the apostles to be distributed to those who were in need.
Acts 5 began with the word “But” and the account in verses 1 to 11 formed a stark contrast to that in Acts 4:32-37. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property, and colluded with each other to keep some of the sale proceeds for themselves. before Ananias brought the balance to the apostles. After Peter exposed his dishonesty, Ananias fell down and died. Sapphira suffered the same fate three hours later when she too lied to Peter about the sale proceeds and her lie was exposed by him.
APPLY:
In Acts 5:3, Peter asked Ananias “…why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit….?” Ananias and Sapphira had allowed deceit to creep into their hearts. They wanted the church to believe that they had given the entire sale proceeds when they were not doing so. Their lack of integrity was not just a personal sin, or a sin against the church. It was a sin against God.
This caused me to think about what I allow into my heart and mind to shape my thoughts and values? I am reminded of Proverbs 4:23:
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”
DO:
One of the ways in which I can watch over my heart is to read and meditate upon God’s Word daily and allow it to teach, renew and transform my mind so that I may know how I should live. His Word is like a searchlight that shines into my heart and exposes the hypocritical or sinful thoughts which I entertain. As the Holy Spirit convicts me, I can confess and repent of these thoughts before the Lord before I act on them.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, help me give You my wholehearted attention each day, to read the Bible, meditate on Your Word and pray. Help me to apply Your Word in my daily life so that I can be a good witness for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
