To Tell the Truth

Written By Betty Predmore

Acts 8:14-40 (June 12)

Back in the late 1950's, a new game show appeared on ABC...To Tell the Truth.

The idea behind this show as that there was a celebrity panel who had to ask questions to three different contestants and determine which one of the three was telling the truth. Two of the contestants were "fibbing" and one was actually being truthful.

So, the object for the contestants was to be the best "liar." Hmmm... how well would you do on this show?

Peter and John are being sent to Samaria. They are the celebrity panel. Their job is to see if the Samaritans have really accepted God's message. The question was... could non-Jews and half-Jews REALLY receive the Holy Spirit?

When they got their they realized that, while these Samaritans were truthful about believing God's message, the Holy Spirit had not yet entered these people, so they prayed for the new

believers to receive the Holy Spirit. When John and Peter layed their hands on them, they received the Spirit.

Once again, Simon is watching. When he saw them all receive the Holy Spirit, he offered John and Peter money to buy this power. He wanted to be able to lay hands on people and have them receive the Holy Spirit just as they did.

Peter was upset by this. " May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God."

So was Simon telling the truth in yesterday's scripture about believing in God? Or was he merely trying to gain favor? If you were on the celebrity panel, what would your answer be?

Peter goes on to tell him that if he repents of this wickedness, maybe God will forgive his evil thoughts. Those evil thoughts revealed that he was full of bitter jealousy and sin.

Simon wants Peter to pray to the Lord for him so nothing bad will happen. It seems he knows Peter is telling the truth.

Peter and John continue on to Jerusalem, preaching in Samaritan villages along the way.

Phillip follows the command of an angel of the Lord to "Go south." It is then that he meets the treasurer of Ethiopia, who is a eunuch with a lot of power under the queen of Ethiopia. When Philip met him, the Eunuch was reading aloud from the book of Isaiah.

Following the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Philip went and walked along beside the carriage and asked the eunich if he understood what he was reading. He did not.

Philip goes on to minister to him through the scriptures he had been reading. They came upon a body of water and Philip baptized the eunuch before they parted ways.

The conversion of this eunuch with great authority brought Christianity into the power structures of another government. Christianity was now spreading out beyond the traditional government of the apostles.

Philip continued on in other regions, preaching the Good News and gained many followers who believed he was Telling The Truth.

What about you? When you speak of your faith, do others believe you? Would a celebrity panel see the proof of your truth? We are all contestants in the game of life and it is important that, as believers in the word of God, we continue Telling the Truth to all who will listen.

Betty Predmore

Betty Predmore is a writer, blogger, speaker and ministry leaders. She is the founder of Mom-Sense, Inc., a ministry designed for mentorship, connection and service to women of all life circumstances. Through this ministry, women are encouraged and supported with scripture and life application. Mom-Sense helps women overcome life struggles through small group classes with biblical curriculum, individual counseling, bible studies, and other areas of support.

Betty also directs the Imperial Valley Life Center, which is a non-profit faith-based pro life women’s resource center. She has a passion for saving the unborn and supporting mothers through pregnancy and motherhood.

Betty loves to speak at events, sharing the love of Jesus with other women. She does this through practical life application mingled with God’s word, and sprinkled with humor. Having experienced a broken home, divorce, abuse, grief, single motherhood, blended families, and adoption, she uses the broken places and movement of God in her own life to share His word in an inspiring way. She enjoys sharing her blogs on social media as a way of reaching out on a broader spectrum. Betty has many speaking topics which can be found on her website: www.bettypredmore.com

As an author, she has had the opportunity to impact women and reach deep into their hearts with her words of inspiration and encouragement. Through Pondering Virtue and Whispered Grace, she has created wonderful tools for the woman who is seeking direction in her spiritual walk.

Betty serves on the writing team of A Wife Like Me, and is also a contributor to Moms Encouraging Moms and Gift of Thorns. Her blogs have appeared in several magazine publications throughout the years including Southern Faith Magazine, Purposeful Life, and Aspiring Woman Magazine.

While Betty thrives on her ministry opportunities, her greatest blessings come from being a wife to Jim and a mama to their wonderful collection of children, who bring joy, laughter, and an occasional tear to her days.


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