Have you ever come to a conclusion before completely investigating all of your options? If so, you may have been embarrassed about your original thought because more information revealed new truth. Our conclusions based on what we see at first are not necessarily accurate. We see evidence of this truth in the Bible.

Acts 28:1-6 relates part of Paul’s journey to Rome. After escaping a terrible storm, they found themselves on the island of Malta. Here’s the account:

Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. (NKJ)

The natives of Malta knew Paul was being transported to Rome as a prisoner, so when they saw he was bitten by the snake, their first conclusion made sense to them—“No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”

However, upon further observation, they changed their conclusion, again based upon what they had seen. “But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”

Here’s the kicker—both times their conclusions were wrong. This teaches us that even though we observe activities with our eyes, our conclusions about what we see could still be incorrect based upon missing information. The citizens of Malta were missing information about Paul’s spiritual identity. He wasn’t a murderer and he wasn’t a god. Paul was a representative of the Kingdom of God and the power of God was working on his behalf.

When observing God’s people, it behooves us to be careful about the conclusions we draw based upon what we see. Especially before drawing negative conclusions, we should gather all the evidence. And our conclusions must take into account the fact that God is working on their behalf. Just because a viper may have bitten them—or some other serious problem has arisen—that doesn’t mean they can’t ever be all right again. We cannot allow problems to define us or our estimation of others.

__________________________________

(c)2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

It never ceases to amaze me to see how public figures think they can hide their dirty little secrets. Politicians cheat on their wives and think no one will find out. Financiers swindle investors and figure they’ll never get caught. High-profile lawyers conceal evidence to get their guilty clients released and feel their cleaver courtroom antics instead of the truth will sway the judge and jury in their favor. Actors and musicians act out in public thinking they can do what they want because of their celebrity. Sooner or later, they all find themselves behind a microphone on the news, as the scandal headline in the papers, and as the butt of jokes on late night talk shows. Their families are torn apart, their fortunes suffer, and their character is forever tarnished.

This type of thing existed in Bible days too. Just when the remnant was rejoicing over safely having delivered all the treasures to the temple they were rebuilding, the word of a dirty little secret came to Ezra. “After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, ‘The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices… And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.’” Ezra 9:1-2 (NIV). Ezra was doubly hurt to discover even the leaders’ involvement and knew God’s blessings would not continue unless they cleaned up their act.

Public figures, church leaders, or regular folks like us are all subject to universal truths that have been set in place by God. What’s done in the darkness will be brought to the light and what goes around, comes around. Especially in our lives as believers, we cannot expect to enjoy the abundant life God offers if we insist upon living shabby, slipshod lives of questionable character. Even the little things matter. Read some of God’s wisdom on the subject:

¨ Dan 2:22 He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.

¨ Jer 23:24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the LORD; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.

¨ Luke 12:2-3 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

¨ Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

¨ Num 32:23b …be sure your sin will find you out.

(All previous verses from NKJ)
I think it would be a good idea to get rid of your dirty little secrets, don’t you? Confessing them before God means turning from participation in them. Do whatever you have to do to fix what you’ve messed up. Start today.

_____________________________________

©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

At my AuthorizeMe Seminar, I teach people how to write the book that’s on their heart and position it to be published. I coach them through the necessary thought process so they can answer the publisher’s questions such as, “What is your book about?” “To whom does its message matter?” and “What are you willing to do to help market it?”

I give the students an assignment that’s due to me in one month. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage them to continue along their path to publication. I want to cheer them on and let them know someone believes in them and is there to help. I request that they send me via e-mail what they have done on their project since the class. After spending the money to take the seminar, working through the 12-hour process, and having 30 days to build on what they’ve learned, it never ceases to amaze me how few people do anything further.

Proverbs 21:25-26 says, “The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, for his hands refuse to work; all day long he is craving, while the righteous gives and does not hold back” (NAS). In other words, even though we long for something very badly, our own longings can destroy us when we refuse to put in the work it takes to get things done. However, we are handling our desires wisely and righteously when we diligently give our time and effort to the work.

God has set goals in your heart for a reason; He intends to see you get those things done. Accomplishing those goals will both honor Him and prosper you. Why are you trippin’? Achievement takes effort and accomplishments are the result of exertion. God works it in; you must work it out (see Philippians 2:12-13). Get to work!

____________________________

©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

There have been haters since Biblical days. Cyrus king of Persia was moved by God to allow the Israelite captives to go back to their land and rebuild the temple to honor God. The work started, but as the years passed and other kings arose, “…the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel…” (Ezra 4:1, NKJ), and they got mad when they weren’t a part. They wrote scandalous letters to the new king and got the work stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, a new king of Persia.

We read in Ezra chapters 5 and 6 about the work getting under way again and yet more haters arose sending another letter. This time the haters were thwarted by a good filing system. When Darius received the letter, he had some research done. The clerks went back into the files and found Cyrus’ original decree to rebuild the temple. Darius not only upheld that decree, but ordered the haters to supply the builders with whatever they needed – whatever would make them comfortable – to complete the work.

Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (NKJ). Don’t sweat the haters. You just keep doing what God has told you to do. Your haters had better watch out! God can handle them. Before they know it, they just might be the ones supporting and financing the work God has called you to do.

Oh, and keep up with your paperwork. You never know when keeping your natural business straight will help in keeping your spiritual business running smoothly.

____________________________

©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

From 1966 – 1970, the warning on a package of cigarettes said, “Caution: Cigarette Smoking May be Hazardous to Your Health.” When findings made it clear that tar and nicotine actually did destroy the lungs, the warning was changed to read, “Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined that Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to Your Health.” In 1985, other warnings were added including these which say, “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy,” and “Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.”

Back in 1970, one of my friends who was a smoker remembers when the “may be hazardous” was changed to “is dangerous.” He was watching television, smoking a cigarette at his kitchen table, as the surgeon general made the announcement. After picking up the package and reading the warning for himself, he looked at the cigarette in his hand and proclaimed, “Then I’m a fool.” He hasn’t smoked a cigarette since.

The story of the beginning of King Hezekiah’s reign in 2 Chronicles 29 reminds me of my friend’s immediate change. From the time he was 9-years-old, Hezekiah had watched as his dad, King Ahaz, insisted upon serving foreign gods, thus causing the wrath of God to be poured out upon the people of Judah in the form of attacks by several different nations. When Hezekiah took to the throne, he said, “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us” 2 Chronicles 29:10 (NKJ). He then went about repairing the temple, putting the priests and Levites back to work, and gathering the people to offer sin and thank offerings and begin to worship.

The final verse of the 2 Chronicles 29 is key. “Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly” (verse 36). You see, it didn’t take a long time for the people to shift gears and start doing what was right. My former pastor used to say, “When you find more light, walk in it.” The Word of God is clear as to how we should conduct our lives. What’s takes us so long to simply turn around and start to obey? How about making that sudden, positive change today?

____________________________

©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

I once delivered a message for the Women’s Christian Fellowship group of the International Council of Community Churches. These women had come together from all over the country for their annual denominational convention. I joked with them, knowing they must be an august, serious group with lots of faith in me to figure I had something worthwhile to say about their complex topic – the role of women in the modern church – at 7:00A.M. for 20 minutes.

Well, the gist of my message was that since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, His intention for a woman’s role, no matter where she is, has not changed since God created woman in the first place. If we look at all of Scripture, at all the many roles women have played in Biblical history, and at how God the Son dealt with women, we can see clearly that God is in the business of including women in His work and using them to bring Him glory.

Of course, I went into more detail – 20 minutes’ worth – in the actual message, and afterward the ladies were generous with their praise and encouraged at being reminded of their usefulness to the Kingdom. But I was struck not so much by the adulation, but by the oneness I felt in the room. Here we were, Christians from many different cities and states, together because of a common cause, mainly our love for our Lord. Even at an early hour, here we were, together to hear one more time from the Scriptures, trusting that we’d hear something that would change us, inspire us, motivate us, or challenge us. I didn’t need to know them and they didn’t need to know me. All we needed to know is that we all knew the Savior. This is a community – the community of the saints – of which I’m ecstatic to be a part.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15:5-6 (NIV)

___________________________________

©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott.

Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Do we actually expect God to change things in and for others in miraculous ways as we intercede for them? Is it as clear to you as it is to me that some changes just aren’t going to happen unless God steps in? After praying about tough situations for a long time, it’s easy to get discouraged. We can start thinking things like:

• Maybe I’m going about this all wrong.
• Perhaps God doesn’t want this situation to change.
• I guess my prayers don’t carry much weight.
• It could be that God’s not really listening.

Well, before we throw in the towel, let’s be reminded of some miraculous changes God pulled off in the lives of two very prominent and headstrong individuals.

First, there was King Manasseh. Second Chronicles chapter 33 tells us of this guy who started reigning as king of Jerusalem when he was 12 years old and he held the throne for 55 years. His dedication to idol worship was so bad that it is said of him that he “seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel” Second Chronicles 33:9 (NKJ). However, when the Lord allowed the Assyrians to capture him, torture him, and carry him away, suddenly “when [Manasseh] was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him.” (Funny how that happens!) In His great mercy, God “received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God” Second Chronicles 33:12-13. After that, Manasseh made a complete, public turn-around, casting all the foreign idols out of the city. No one would have believed that this idol-worshipping king would ever change, but it became known far and wide how Manasseh had humbled himself before the Lord.

Second, there’s the story of Saul of Tarsus. Saul was an avowed Christian-killer. He was on his way to Damascus with official permission to do some in when Jesus stopped him. Acts chapter 9 tells of Saul being literally hit by the Light of heaven and tossed to the ground. The New Life Version of the Bible translates the encounter between Paul and Jesus in this way: “[Jesus] said, ‘I am Jesus, the One Whom you are working against. You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.’ Saul was shaken and surprised. Then he said, ‘What do You want me to do, Lord?’ Acts 9:5-6. As staunch an opponent to believers as Saul was, he made a 180 degree turn when personally confronted by Jesus. Saul’s name was changed to Paul and he ended up being the apostle to the Gentiles and writing much of the New Testament.

God cares as much about the deliverance and transformation of our loved ones as He did about Manasseh’s and Paul’s. God hears our prayers. It may only take a gentle nudge, or it might take some hard knocks, but Jesus is able to get through to them in a way that will make the conversion complete and permanent. Let’s be encouraged, keep praying, and keep our eyes peeled and our ears open to witness and hear of God’s miraculous move in their lives.

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, andPower Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Most people want success. From the time we are very small children, we are aware of the satisfaction of winning and gaining what we want. Some of us remain quite competitive, and many of us channel that urge to win and gain into the drive for personal success in all areas of our lives.

Then we become believers, and we carry that drive for success over into our Christian lives and figure we can continue to bolster ourselves to higher heights spiritually. Here’s where we go wrong. We are not elevated in spiritual things in the same way we are elevated in earthly or carnal things. In carnal, fleshly, or natural things, we can elevate ourselves to our own level of incompetence. In spiritual things, we cannot do the elevating. God is the Elevator and He’s the One who judges, opens doors, and makes placements. God alone doles out blessings and causes success.

Now here’s how we can mess that up. Let’s look at two examples in Second Chronicles chapters 25 and 26. The first blockage to success in God is shown by King Amaziah. His mistake was that “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart” Second Chronicles 25:2 (NKJ). King Uzziah lived out the second blockage to success in God. His mistake was that he got so successful that he forgot it was God who was making him great. We are told that “as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper… And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction” Second Chronicles 26:5, 15-16.

So what are the two things that block success and blessing? First, we will block our blessings and thwart our success by just going through the motions like King Amaziah did. We do not want to be guilty of “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” Second Timothy 3:5. Second, like King Uzziah, we will block our blessings and thwart our success by getting too big for our britches and forgetting that God is the Source and the Power behind all we have and do.

Let’s be sincere in our work for God. And as the saying goes, let’s never forget to remember where all our blessings come from.

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, andPower Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

When I talk or preach about Bible study, I like to tease believers by letting them know we only have one book to study. One would think we’d all be Bible scholars in short order; however, that’s not the case. The Bible is such an amazing book that we can learn something new every time we read it.

Apollos learned this principle even before the Bible was completed. Acts tells us that he was “an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures” who “had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John” Acts 18:24-25 (NKJ). With the knowledge he possessed he “began to speak boldly in the synagogue,” but “when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” Acts 18:26. So even though Apollos was an amazing orator and an extremely scholarly individual, he didn’t know it all.

In much the same way we continue to learn incredible things about our wonderful spouse, we can never plumb all the depths of the Word of God. God’s Word was made flesh in Jesus Christ so as we uncover more about the Word, we are actually gaining more knowledge about Jesus. And there is always something more to learn. Let’s be expectant every time we open the Bible.

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, andPower Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

One of my friends has a radio show on which she discusses various topics of interest with her guests and audience. When she wants to make a point, especially a spiritual point, she starts her comments with the phrase, “Let’s be clear.” I love that. She is sure about her position and wants to be sure her audience clearly understands exactly what she is saying.

As Christians, it’s more important than ever that we clearly communicate the message about the truth of the Word of God. We cannot be ignorant of, nor bashful about what the Bible has to say. Paul’s deportment among the Athenians in Acts 17 is a great example. The story tells us that “all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing” Acts 17:21 (NKJ). So Paul approached them and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” Acts 17:22-23 (NKJ).

So many people in our world know of Jesus, but they do not know Him in a personal way. The Great Commission is still in force, commanding us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15 (NKJ). This assignment not only tells us to go, but presupposes we will know what to say to people.

Are we focused on proclaiming God and preaching the Gospel? Let’s be clear about both the command (it’s not an option) and the commission (it’s a specific message).

____________________________

©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, andPower Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)