Scripture: Acts 5: 1-4

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. ² He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. ³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. ⁴ The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

Scripture Commentary:

Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to God and the apostles. Do you or have you lied to God? No one wants to admit it, but be honest we all have at times in our lives.

There are many ways we hold back from God.

When we say we will never do something again or when we hold back some of the offerings we intended to put in the church plate, we are being dishonest. And like Ananias and Sapphira, we put on a show to appear that we are giving more than we actually are. We want the appearance of doing something great.

God sees all and knows all.

We cannot hide from God. When it comes to giving, do what you really can. God is not asking for all even though all you have comes from Him. God gave us His most precious gift, His Son Jesus Christ. So how can you hold anything back?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Acts 5

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Acts:

You Can’t Earn Grace

You Can’t Afford the Gift of God

Scripture: Acts 10: 13-16

¹³ Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” ¹⁴ “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.^[b]” ¹⁵ But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” ¹⁶ The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

Scripture Commentary:

God gave Peter a vision that three men were looking for him, and he was told to go with them when they came. Peter received the vision three times. So when they came Peter said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

The men represented Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Cornelius wanted Peter to come to his home. During that time Jews and Gentiles had nothing to do with each other. Before having the vision Peter would have thought that a Gentile Roman official would not accept Jesus Christ. However, God prepared Peter for his mission to spread the gospel to the Gentiles.

The number three keeps coming up for Peter. What’s your number? How many times does it take before you do what God has for you? Do you even hear God talking to you and if yes, how do you respond?

Although Peter had problems he kept being God’s servant. Read Galatians 2: 11-15. God has an assignment for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts 10

Galatians 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Acts:

Do What Is Right – Tell Others About God!

Can You Hear God’s Voice? He Talks to You.

Scripture: John 4: 48 – 50

⁴⁸ Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” ⁴⁹ The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” ⁵⁰ Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

Scripture Commentary: Why do you need to see miracles to believe?

A father asks Jesus to save his son from death. Jesus asks if you need to see miracles to believe. Are you someone who needs to see the miracles in order to believe? If so, why?

Jesus died on the cross, rose on the third day, and now is with God, the Father. He sent the Holy Spirit to watch over and guide us in the way to go. We can’t see the Holy Spirit but do you believe? If you don’t believe in the Holy Spirit how can you believe in God and be a follower of Jesus Christ? They are one and the same.

The religious leaders of Jesus’s time had God’s Word but they failed to understand it. Similarly to the past we have false preachers spreading their own message, not God’s. Who are you listening to and who are you following?

Don’t get right and wrong mixed up.

There is only one God and one Satan. Don’t get them mixed up. God is love and forgiveness; Satan is self and destruction. The world’s camouflage presents a very distored picture filled with lies.

Jesus is the only way to salvation. Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 4

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

The World Will Persecute You For Jesus

Remember that Jesus Loves You

Scripture: Luke 15: 4, 8, 24

⁴ “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins^[a] and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Scripture Commentary:

Three parables. Lost sheep, lost coins, lost son. Jesus tells us that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one who is missing. Why worry about one when you have so many others? Because each one is special and has something to offer.

Why is the one important?

The woman who misplaced a coin goes in search of it. What if a pair of shoes cost $11 and she only had $10 because she lost the $1. That $1 becomes important because without it, she cannot purchase the shoes she needs.

The man’s son is gone. He doesn’t know if the son is dead or alive. He has another son who is with him but he loves both sons.

God extends His hand to protect you.

God created us; we are His children. As a loving parent He looks out for and tries to protect each one of us, even when we act foolishly. Think back over your life. Do you recognize God’s hand of protection. His love is extraordinary. Don’t despair if you feel far from God. He will find you because He searches for the lost.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 15

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Do You See Yourself Clearly?

And When He Saw Their Faith

Scripture: Matthew 7: 22 – 23, 28 – 29

²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus is saying beware of false preachers and teachers who say God sent them to teach you and show you the way to the Father’s kingdom. Get away from them! Keep in mind that Satan knows God’s Word and he and his disciples will use it to mislead you.

Read the Word, live the Word.

Follow God’s message. In order to know God’s Word and His message you must have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. Living life on your terms is not God’s way. Being good your friends or to those who agree with you is not God’s way. Love and sincerely pray for the people you don’t get along with is what a true follower of Jesus does.

You get to choose how you will live your life.

The day of reckoning is coming and all your good and bad will be presented before God for judgment. No one is born perfect. God knows this and He will judge you on how you live. If you are reading this then you have time to be a servant of Jesus. Don’t be the person that Jesus says ‘I never knew you. Get away from me.’ You get to choose.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 7

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

Put On the Full Armor of God

Welcome Jesus Into Your Life

Scripture: John 11: 4, 14, 17, 23, 26

⁴ But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” ¹⁴ So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁷ When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. ²³ Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁶ Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Scripture Commentary:

The story of Lazarus is one of the most popular in the New Testament. When Jesus hears about Lazarus, Jesus knows that he has to die. If Jesus had been there the day Lazarus died, the people would have said that Jesus healed him of his sickness. In itself, this miracle would have been good; however, Lazarus dying and being in his grave for four days was something entirely difference.

The villagers loved and held Mary, Martha and Lazarus in high esteem. They had been witness to the funeral and saw the body go into the tomb. Jesus waited before entering the village to perform the miracle to show the people that he is the Son of God. He has power over the grave.

Lazarus is not the only one who Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus brought back the daughter of the synogogue leader (Matthew 9: 18-26) and the widow’s only son (Luke 7: 12 -15). However, neither of these people had been in the grave. Lazarus, on the other hand, had been in the grave and had started to decay.

With this miracle some rejected Jesus and started plotting to kill him. Do you accept Jesus as your Savior … or are you rejecting him?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John 11

Matthew 9

Luke 7

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

What Do You Say?

Scriptures:

John 4: 50

⁵⁰ Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

John 5: 8

⁸ Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

John 11: 43

⁴³ Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

Scripture Commentary:

These scriptures show us the power of God working through Jesus. He told one man to “Go back home. Your son will live!” And he told another to stand and walk. He didn’t have to touch them or have them do anything. He just spoke the word.

Even now, 2000 years later, if you believe, all Christ has to do is speak the word into your life. His Holy Spirit is with us. All you have to do is believe and ask.

John recorded these miracles so that we can see Christ’s power, both then and now. The government official believed without question. The man at the pool just took up his bed and walked away.

Do you know the sound of his voice?

In order to hear him you must first accept him into your life. Otherwise you don’t know who is speaking to you.

Do you know him?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John 4, John 5, and John 11

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

Jesus Is the Door to Salvation

All Is Possible For Those Who Believe

Scripture: John 10: 1

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber.

Scripture Commentary: You can only enter the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.

Most robbers won’t enter by the front door. If they do their intentions aren’t good. We come into contact with all types of people who have various intentions. Jesus gives truth and salvation to contrast the thief who only wants to harm or mislead you. What Christ offers is abundantly more full and eternal.

A self-centered person neither loves nor cares for you or anyone else. They are only out for themselves. Satan and his followers do what they do to enhance themselves.

Enter through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life.

Ezekiel 34:23 tells us of the Messiah, the good shepherd. Satan and his followers resent Jesus who stands at the gate of the pen protecting his flock. They know they can’t get at those who are protected. Jesus took away our sins when he died on the cross and rose on the third day. His protection is for eternity.

Christ’s death and resurrection are part of God’s plan for our salvation. Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. This was done by his consent. So when you follow Jesus, he leads you straight to his Father who sits on the heavenly throne.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John 10

Ezekiel 34

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

God Is the Beginning of Everything

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Scripture: Amos 4: 11-12

¹¹ “I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord. ¹² “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.”

Scripture Commentary: Don’t be hard-headed. Return to God.

God warned His children through famine, drought, blight, locusts, plagues and war but to no avail. They did not return to Him. Through it all, they continued to do their own thing and ignored God.

Is God trying to tell or show you something and are you ignoring Him? You can run but you can’t hide from God. The Israelites ran but they couldn’t outrun God. They had to meet Him face to face.

When it is your time to meet God face to face, He will ask what you’ve done in His name. You won’t be able to run or hide. You can’t ignore Him.

It’s your choice.

He gives you a choice every day to get yourself in order and do His work. Help others, love Him, and spread His gospel. If you are ignoring Him, you still have time to change. God forgets and forgives your sins when you ask Him. He loves you. Are you prepared to meet Him?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Amos 4

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Amos:

How Will It Be in the Last Days?

Seek to Learn and Understand the Words of the Lord

Scripture: Matthew 9: 9-11

Jesus calls Matthew.

⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. ¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. ¹¹ But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?^[c]”

Scripture Commentary:

Just think how blessed we are that Jesus not only calls us to sit at his table but also he breaks bread with us. We are all sinners who come up short. Matthew was a tax collector working for the Romans. The tax collectors not only collected taxes for the Roman government but also charged extra to line their own pockets. They were hated by the Jews because most of them were Jews exploiting their own people. But this all changed for Matthew when he answered Jesus’s call to follow him.

Have you answered Jesus’s call to follow him or are you still doing your own thing?

Jesus is telling us right now to follow him. Thank him for the day when you awake in the morning and ask him what he has for you to do. Share Jesus’s gospel with everyone.

Jesus came for the lost and the sick. Sick Matthew became well when he answered Jesus’s call. Jesus calls to you now.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 9

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

Jesus Spoke Plainly About His Purpose

What Favor Do You Ask of Jesus?