Simple Lessons

 

We've been exploring the theme of Passing the Buck.
With that intention in mind, we continue on through Acts 5 and look at 3 simple lessons.

The simple lesson here should be not to lie. Maybe, God knows everything. 
The community had set its mind, as we read at the end of Acts 4 a couple of weeks ago, to give all that it had in order to share with others and put the needs of others first. Ananias and Sapphira learn here that they cannot keep some of it for themselves. We are either in this walk with God 100% or we are not in it at all. "How could you conspire to test the Lord?" Peter would ask of them both at separate times. The simple lesson here is not to test the Lord. Did you grow up pushing the limits with your parents? Always testing your teachers to see how much they could take? Try that with the Lord and see how far it goes. Go on. Test the Lord. You'll find he is patient and kind and you'll always find out when you least expect it that He has a lesson he wants to teach. The consequences might be harsh and the pain can be severe. Nothing in all of life is harder on us, personally, than testing the Lord. 

Healing takes place when you least expect in the world of Acts.
The Spirit is moving and things are always happening. 

"If I could just reach the hem of his garment."
You remember the story of the woman who was bleeding. Hemorrhaging the scriptures say.
She had been bleeding for twelve years that way. Uncontrollably. There was no way to stop it.
Then she comes in contact with Jesus. Well, not Him personally. Just the tassels, the little strings on the ends of his garment he wore. The theme we read about in the Gospels carry on. Jesus told his followers that they would do deeds even greater than what he did. All the people are looking for here was to be in the shadow of Peter. That was their faith and God seems to bless that. If I could just fall into a piece of his shadow as he comes by. And the healing God is wanting to giver comes pouring out. Incredible. 

Our last piece if lesson is a bit more lengthy.

And a bit more treacherous. 

When was the last time you got happy or excited because someone had done you wrong?
Treated you harshly? Spoke to you in a way that left you feeling worthless? It is just such a moment here that helps these followers of Jesus know that they are on the right path. Jesus told them they would be treated this way. The word treated Jesus just like this. And he told them the world would do the same thing to them. "When they heard this they were furious and wanted to put them to death." How would you continue to live your life knowing there was someone or a group of people who intently wanted to kill you? "Consider it all joy my brothers when you face many trials" James, the earthly brother of Jesus, makes me laugh every time i read it. I chuckle and think, "Are you crazy?" Many probably thought so. Few would actually think they are blessed when trials and persecutions arise.

Lets consider for a moment what persecution actually is.
It is not someone disagreeing with you on Facebook. 
It is not someone just looking at you funny.
It is not the distancing and not having anything to do with you that many have experienced since the events of 9/11 and the social distancing we have experienced with germs and COVID. 
While those events and items are hard to deal with, many of us have truly never experienced having a gun shoved into your back, being led outside a village or a city, lined up and made to kneel on the ground, and then being executed for your faith. To be torn from your family and led to a camp where you might have to live out your days in poor health and isolation. Many of us really have no idea what it means to be persecuted. "Third world problems" we might call them. We have grown comfortable and easy in our 1st world situation. Maybe the Lord needs to shake us up a bit. Help us to know what it really means to follow Him. 

Jesus might not have intended for us to have it so easy.
He may not have wanted us to have and easy life or be blessed with so many riches. 
Our Savior himself had no where to lay his head or call his home. 
He knew why he was here and what he came to accomplish. Do we?
Do we really know what we are doing here? What is it we are here to make happen?
Have we really affected anyone for the Kingdom so that they might know the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ? It's tough road to hoe, if we get the meaning there. God wants to use us to affect others. He also wants us to understand that this is not easy work. It will take all we can give and more. 

And, the blessings will be eternal.