Saturday 25 June, 2016

7 About three hours later, the wife of Ananias came in. She didn’t know what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me. Is this the price you and Ananias sold the land for?” “Yes,” she said. “That’s the price.” 9 Peter asked her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! You can hear the steps of the men who buried your husband. They are at the door. They will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at Peter’s feet and died. Then the young men came in. They saw that Sapphira was dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 The whole church and all who heard about these things were filled with fear.

Sapphira had a chance.  Peter asks her point-blank “Is this the full price of the land?’  She had one last opportunity to come clean and say “we lied” and she chose to reject it.  This is a frightening story and harrowing reminder that God is not to be trifled with; that lying to the Holy Spirit is something that we should never do. It brings to mind the verse in Matthew 5:37 where Jesus says “Simply let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’, no. Anything else is of the evil one”.  How true is that?!

But even in the depths of sin there is hope. I am blown away by the grace and mercy of God. Even in the face of the darkness of Sapphira’s heart and the blatant conspiracy with her husband, God offers her one last chance. I have no doubt that forgiveness could have flooded Sapphira’s heart and she would have been spared the same fate as her husband had she accepted this final gift of mercy.

Oh Lord, have mercy on this wicked heart of mine.
Forgive me of my lies and help me let my ‘yes’ be yes and my ‘no’ be no. May my life forever be testament to your incredible ‘last-chance’ mercy.  Amen

Written by Boudy VanNoppen