the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
Acts 5:1-16
Acts 4:1-37 (in the French) began with a "but", which makes known the action of the enemy from outside against the truth. Ch. 5 begins with another "but", which introduces his work to corrupt the assembly from within. Alas! since then Satan has not stopped being active in this twofold manner. The spirit of wanting to imitate and the desire to give the appearance of godliness involve Ananias and Sapphira in a lie. Peter reproves them with holy indignation and they are forthwith struck by the hand of God. Their eternal destiny is not in question here. This concerns the manifestation of God’s government. Under the pretext that we are the objects of His grace, do not let us think that God hates sin any the less. He is holy and so must be His children (1 Peter 1:15-17).
Great fear came upon all those present. This is a feeling that we must also cultivate towards Him who reads our most secret thoughts.
Vv. 12-16 speak to us of the miracles of love accomplished "by the hands of the apostles" and show us that it is not sufficient to admire believers; we must take the step of faith and join ourselves to the Lord (vv. 13, 14). In Revelation 21:8 the fearful ones are the first to be named among those who are eternally lost.
