What Are You Holding Back from God?
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God…And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?…(Acts 5:1-19)” underlining added
What are you holding back from God? Before you answer too quickly, think about this. No matter how much we may justify to ourselves, and even to others, we are living fully for God and are holding nothing back from Him, He knows the truth. No matter how much others might be condoning and helping us justify what we’re holding back from God, or how they may be holding back from Him the same thing or something else, or how they may be jointly with us holding something back from Him, He knows the truth. He doesn’t just know what we’re holding back from Him outwardly in our decisions and actions. He sees our hearts and love and trust and worship and time and focus and attention and dedication and commitment and devotion and praise and thanksgiving and desire and yearning and seeking and reverence and honor we hold back from Him.
Know the story of Ananias and Sapphira who sold their possession like everyone else so they could give the proceeds to the apostles to distribute to everyone? They gave SOME of the proceeds to the apostles but held back SOME for themselves. The apostle Peter confronted them for lying to God. They both died when confronted. There was something I missed until God’s Spirit brought it to light. “His wife also being privy to it…Ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of God.” Years ago, my beloved pastor pointed out when we stand before the Lord after our lives on earth are over, we will not give an account of other people’s lives. We will give an account of our own. How often, I wonder, do we justify holding back stuff from the Lord because everyone around us is, or because a loved one is holding back the same thing with us? If we really believe Jesus is Lord, then how can we justify holding anything back at all from the Lord?
What are you holding back from the Lord? Ask Him. Let the Spirit of God show you. Don’t resist Him. Surrender all to the Lord with love and thanksgiving that He is God!