Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” (Acts 5:8)

I had a bad case of tonsillitis when I was eleven years old and was prescribed very strong antibiotics, which had to be taken twice daily. According to my pediatrician, if I followed his recommendation, I would be as good as new in no time.

Time elapsed and my throat looked and felt just as inflamed as before the antibiotics were prescribed, so my parents took me back to see the doctor. Bloodwork showed no trace of the medication in my bloodstream, and a very serious conversation took place in that doctor’s office, which culminated with my confession that I had not been taking the antibiotics, because I was afraid that I would choke on the pills. Since I’d been too scared to tell anyone about my fear, I had pretended to take the pills, but flushed them down the toilet instead.

My parents were disappointed because they trusted me when they handed me the pills, thinking I would take them. No good thing can come out of a lie, and I learned my lesson that day.

When we break our covenant with God, we cease to have his covering and protection over our lives and must repent. I had broken my parents’ trust and was in worse condition without their awareness. Fortunately, they loved me more than I deserved and, like God, saved me from worse doom.

Do a daily check, and toss out lies and fear.

Luska Natali is a native of Brazil who is passionate about God, her family, learning new languages (she fluently speaks three), and meeting people.

© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.