Living in Awe of God

March 8

(Acts 5:4-11 NIV) ““Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." {5} When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. {6} Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. {7} About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. {8} Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." {9} Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." {10} At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. {11} Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.””

(Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV) ““Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, {29} for our "God is a consuming fire.””

(Habakkuk 3:2 NIV) "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied to God. It is never wise to lie to God. We can deceive people, but we cannot deceive the Lord. What is wise is to live in awe of God’s knowledge, power, judgment, and mercy. Do you live in awe of God? Does your giving reflect that awe? Does your service glorify His name? Ananias thought he could lie to God and get away with it. It cost him his life. When we lie to God, we also lose. Our spirits weaken. We become man-pleasers rather than God-pleasers. We withhold more and more from God as time goes by. We may even begin to tell God, “I just don’t have it to give right now. I’m giving as much as I can.” But God will know better. We cannot thrive spiritually when we lie to God, and Christ’s Bride, the Church, suffers when Christians hold back more than they really need for themselves. Live in awe of God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day