Are You Real?

How real are you? I mean, really real?

Most of us don’t walk around trying to be fake—but if we’re honest, we all try to look a little better than we actually are.

We want to seem younger. Kinder. More spiritual. We want to fit in with whatever crowd we’re in.

If we’re around spiritual people, we want to sound spiritual. Around fitness people, we want to look healthy. Around successful people, we want to look successful.

And when it comes to generosity, we want the credit—even when the sacrifice isn’t there.

Why is that? Have you ever wanted the praise without making the sacrifice?

Wanted people to think you're more generous, more faithful, more surrendered than you really are?

That’s exactly what happened in Acts 5:

“But a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some land. He gave part of the money to the apostles, but he pretended it was the full amount. His wife agreed to this. Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, why did you let Satan rule your thoughts to lie to the Holy Spirit?’” (Acts 5:1–3, NCV)

Here’s the wild part: they didn’t have to give the full amount. Peter even says so in verse 4. They could’ve just said, “Here’s a portion of the money,” and that would’ve been fine.

The problem wasn’t the amount—it was the deception.

They wanted the praise without the price.

They wanted to look like Barnabas, who gave generously in the previous chapter. They wanted applause without surrender. They wanted the image of faithfulness… without the cost of actually being faithful.

The scary part is: God wasn’t and isn’t fooled.

This story shines a spotlight straight into my soul and heart. It makes me pause. Honestly? It puts a little holy fear in me. Because here’s the truth:

“God doesn’t play games with hypocrisy.”

He sees what we do in the open and in secret. He hears our lips say, “I surrender all,” while our hearts whisper, “Except for this part.”

Peter was clear: “You didn’t lie to people; you lied to God.” (Acts 5:4, NCV)

This wasn’t a money issue. It was a motive issue. And it still is. It’s always a heart issue.

I don’t think we need to live in fear of being struck down like Ananias and Sapphira—but we should fear living a double life.

A life where we know the right words to say but don’t mean them. A life where we raise our hands in worship but hold back our time, our obedience, our forgiveness and our full devotion.

So I say it’s wise to ask: “Are we chasing the praise without living the sacrifice?”

I want to be real. I’m a bit ashamed about the times I’m not real. I do want to be. And, not just when people are watching, but when only God sees.

GOD, I love you, but I fear you. You are holy. The more I see your holiness, the more I see my sin. I fall so short. It makes me more and more grateful for Jesus Christ. I’m thankful, very thankful that my merits are His, not mine. Yes, I try, but boy do I fall short. Forgive me. Help me, Holy Spirit. Help me be real. IJNIP amen. ♥️