Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 12-9-23- "for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20. A significant miracle had occurred. A 40 year old man, lame from birth, was healed. Peter just told him to stand up and he did! Acts 3:6- "But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” The man was praising God; the crowds were excited; Peter and John were preaching Jesus. There was quite a commotion. About 5000 people were saved thst day! Acts 4 also tells us that a group of politically placed religious men, priests and Sadducees, were distressed over the public disturbance. They had Peter and John arrested. Peter and John were told to stop preaching in Jesus' name. They, however, said, "We can't stop!" All this brings us to the present hostile environment. Are we silent or do we speak? Do we share God's love and His saving grace? Or, do we bow to the pressure of society and be silent? Many of us have worried what people would think if we spoke. Some of us have been very afraid. Somewhere along the way though, God infuses us with some courage. Where are you on the courage spectrum? Do you hesitate to speak, thinking you want to, but fear wins; or, do you immediately speak about Jesus and His love. Experience shows that people may be in different places at different times. It shows that God may work a miracle in you, giving you courage, where fear reigned previously. Ask God for courage. Ask and He will give it! Do not hesitate! God will do it! It is absolutely His will that He be proclaimed by those He has transformed from darkness to light. It is His will that He be announced to the world as the one and only Savior. It is His will that we speak of Him as easily as our closest friend. Just be sure you are speaking in love; because, without love the words become a tool of Satan. Love is the key, God's love is the power!