Good Morning Friends,
“Great fear seized the whole church and all
who heard about these events. The apostles performed many miraculous signs and
wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in
Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly
regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in
the Lord and were added to their number.” (Acts 5:11-14)
Today’s Bible passage contains great
paradoxes. It comes on the heels of the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Here
were two people who were more concerned about how they looked to people than
they were about what God thought of them. They lied to God and to the church
and God immediately struck them dead.
You can understand why “great fear seized the
church.” There were other sinners among the people of the church. In fact,
there weren’t any people who were a part of the church who weren’t sinners. They
probably wondered which sinner God would strike dead next. Of course, God
doesn’t often strike sinners dead on the spot --- fortunately! How He acted
toward Ananias and Sapphira was His own sovereign decision.
But note that though “great fear seized the
whole church,” the people in the church didn’t desert it. They continued to
meet with the other believers. They were afraid -- terrified -- but they knew they
couldn’t leave. What they were a part of was right and the Lord and His church
was the only place they had to turn.
And there is a paradox in the attitude of
those outside the church, too. “No one else dared join them.” But even though
that was true, the church was “highly regarded by the people.” And, “More and
more men and women believed and were added to their number.” A jumble of attitudes
-- fear, respect, and a willingness to join.
The church is a paradox. It’s certainly a
paradox to the world. It’s even a paradox to those who are a part of it in some
ways and at some times. Perhaps that’s because the idea of the church is bigger
than any human can comprehend -- most of God’s work is!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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