Hold nothing back

You will find the story of Ananias & Sapphira in Acts chapter 5. The couple had sold some of their property and brought part of the money to the Apostles, claiming it was the full amount and keeping the rest for themselves. Peter, disappointed at the couple asked Ananias why he had let Satan fill his heart and why he had lied to the Holy spirit by keeping some of the money for himself, after all the property was his to sell or not to sell. Ananias after hearing this fell to the ground and died. About 3 hours later, he was joined in the grave by his wife, Sapphira. Dear believer, do you know that we are in a similar situation today. God has given us life, plus the free will to give him that life or not. When we confess him as Lord and claim we have given him our life, then we must be prepared to give him all. You can't afford to hold anything back, not yourself, your time, your money, your children, your dreams and aspirations... Nothing at all. There is no room for 'half-believers' in heaven, if there is any word like that. Our life is not like departments where you can have different Lords over the different departments. It's got to be one Lord, the One you confessed. Ananias and Sapphira were not strangers in the church but this is what the Lord says in Ezekiel 33 verse 13 'When I tell righteous people that they shall live, but then they sin, expecting the past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins'. Ananias and Sapphira gave only that which was convenient, what have you given him? You may need to pray for grace today, grace to give him all, all the time. Deuteronomy 23 verse 23 says 'But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God'.