Today’s Community Scripture – 5/21/2025

During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—“Hellenists”—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.”

                            Acts 6:1–4 (MSG)

– Reflection:

In this passage, we observe a community growing rapidly, but with growth comes tension. The Greek-speaking believers felt that their widows were being overlooked—a real and painful experience of neglect and exclusion. Their hurt was valid, and it caused division. What’s striking is how the apostles responded. They didn’t dismiss the pain or ignore the complaint. Instead, they acknowledged the issue and acted with wisdom and humility. They didn’t try to do everything themselves or defend their actions—they empowered others, choosing trustworthy, Spirit-filled individuals to care for the community’s needs. This moment reminds us that even in sacred spaces, misunderstandings and hurt can occur. But it also provides a model for healing: listening, delegating wisely, and staying rooted in purpose. If you’re feeling betrayed or overlooked, this passage affirms that your pain matters. And it also offers hope—that through Spirit-led wisdom and community, healing and restoration are possible.

– Where do we go from here?

We move forward; slowly, prayerfully, and with intention. We bring our pain to God, trusting that He sees every wound and holds every tear. We choose to forgive, not because it’s easy, but because it frees our hearts to heal. We seek wisdom, surround ourselves with truth, and allow God to reshape our story with grace. From this place of brokenness, we don’t retreat—we rebuild. We walk ahead, not alone, but with the One who redeems all things and makes beauty from ashes. This is not the end of your story—it’s the beginning of something deeper, stronger, and more rooted in Him.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, heal what has been broken in us. Restore what has been lost. Guide us forward with clarity and courage. May we walk in the truth of Your love, knowing that You are near to the brokenhearted and faithful to redeem every wound. We trust You with our healing, our future, and our story. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Community Scripture – 5/20/2025

But a man named Ananias—his wife, Sapphira, conniving in this with him—sold a piece of land, secretly kept part of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an offering of it. Peter said, “Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn’t lie to men but to God.” Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. That put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it. The younger men went right to work and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him. Not more than three hours later, his wife, knowing nothing of what had happened, came in. Peter said, “Tell me, were you given this price for your field?” “Yes,” she said, “that price.” Peter responded, “What’s going on here that you connived to conspire against the Spirit of the Master? The men who buried your husband are at the door, and you’re next.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than she also fell down, dead. When the young men returned they found her body. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband. By this time the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with.

                                  Acts 5:1–11 (MSG)

– Reflection:

          Ananias and Sapphira

Stepping back into Acts 5, at the beginning, the Apostles and others who received the Holy Spirit were giving away ownership of their possessions, making sure no one was in need while they did the work of Christ. There was a couple that gave a field to the Apostles, but what was not known was that some of the money was held back. God, being who He is, and the Holy Spirit being what it is, spoke to the Apostles, letting them know what happened. You see, God doesn’t care about our possessions; what matters is whether we are giving them completely to Him. Ananias was called before the Apostles and confronted about the deed he had done, and when the Apostles finished speaking to him, he fell dead. We all have told a few little lies, but don’t do it to God. Satan can whisper to us, and if we listen, he can lead us to do his work. This is what I think happened to Ananias and his wife. By the time the younger men returned from burying Ananias, they also had to bury Sapphira, as she helped commit the lie to God and thus had to be removed from the group too. This small passage shows me the protection God had over this group from the beginning, and still has over His followers today. The miracles performed back then are still happening today if we are paying attention. Sometimes we need to have a profound fear of our God to get moving and honor Him as we should.

– Where do we go from here?

This passage from Acts 5 is not just a historical account—it serves as a warning and a spiritual mirror. It challenges us to examine the authenticity of our hearts when we claim to give ourselves to God. Ananias and Sapphira’s story isn’t merely about money; it’s about motive and the condition of their hearts. They desired the appearance of generosity without the sacrifice. They sought the praise of men while withholding from God. What this reveals is that God values truth within us. He doesn’t need our possessions; He desires our hearts. When we pretend to surrender while secretly holding back, we’re not just lying to people; we’re lying to the Holy Spirit. This brings us to a deeper truth: the fear of the Lord is not terror but reverence. It’s the awe that reminds us God is holy, just, and intimately involved in the lives of His people. The early church thrived under this reverent fear, and miracles followed. That same power is available today, but it begins with hearts that are fully surrendered.

So the question is: Are we living with integrity before God? Are we giving Him our whole hearts, or just the parts we’re comfortable with?

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, You see the depths of our hearts. Teach us to walk in truth and integrity before You. Help us to surrender not just what we have, but who we are; fully and without reservation. Guard us from the whispers of the enemy, and fill us with the wisdom and courage to follow Your Spirit. Let awe rise in us, that we may honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Community Scripture – 5/16/2025

With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.” They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that? They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.” They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.” The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Acts 4:8–22 (MSG)

– Reflection:

In Acts 4, we see uneducated, ordinary people doing amazing things to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and continue Christ’s ministry in the world. They preached with eloquence, healed the hopeless, and challenged the authorities that used power to stifle any opposition. When I consider the world around me, torn apart by division and turmoil, with problems that seem way too big, I feel helpless. I am ordinary. I don’t think I can make a difference. Yet the stories about the disciples in Acts 4 encourage me. Uneducated, ordinary men were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the Body of Christ at work in their world. Other people saw that transformation and knew that they were “companions of Jesus.” Reading this passage reminds me that you are the called and are equipped right where you stand. GOD gives us everything we need to complete the work He has for us.

– Where do we go from here?

I wonder if people observing us will conclude that we are “companions of Jesus.” Will they see something in us that reminds them of Jesus? Do we reveal his character of peace, compassion, and courage? Do we continue his ministry of justice, healing, and hospitality? May Christ use us as his Body in these days. May the Spirit transform us from ordinary individuals into companions of Jesus. Stay on your paths.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, we entrust ourselves to You. Shape our lives to be more like Christ’s life. Empower us to live in Christ’s way. Use us, ordinary us, for Your kingdom. Through Christ we pray. Amen.