Truth really can be stranger than fiction.

First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.

La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.

First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.

Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.

Manna Minutes en español:

Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.

Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:

Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.

Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?

The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!

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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried

Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.

Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6

Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.

Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6

Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!

God Is No Respecter of Persons...Or Is He?

In the Bible we read, "Then Peter opened his mouth and said, 'Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him'" (Acts 10:34-35).

This was said by the apostle Peter after he saw how the Holy Ghost filled the Gentile believers the same as He filled believers in Israel. But is God no respecter of persons only when it comes to the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Some might think so in light of certain other biblical passages.

Let's consider the case of a man named Ananias and a woman named Saphira whom the Lord killed for lying to Him. We read, "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part. And laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, 'Ananais, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.' Ananias, hearing those words fell down and gave up the ghost (died)" (Acts 5:1-3, 5). If you read just a little further in the same passage, you'll see how Ananias' wife also lied, and was struck dead by the Lord. Actually, we don't know if the Lord killed them or sent one of His angels to take their life. The point is they died under His authority for what they did, which was lie to Him.

It certainly makes sense to say it's a grave mistake to lie to the Spirit of God. It resulted in the death of these people. And if we consider that the Lord hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16-17), we're not necessarily astonished at God's reaction to them.

But now let's take a look at when someone else lied--perhaps not directly to the Lord--but in the Lord's very presence. The individual in this case was not killed. God told the elderly Abraham and his barren wife Sara they would have a child in their old age. We read, "Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, 'After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure?' And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sara laugh, saying, 'Shall I of a surety bear a child...?' Sara shall have a son. Then Sara denied, saying, 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid" (Genesis 18:12-14, 15).

If God is no respecter of persons, why did He not at least punish Sara for lying in His presence regarding His promise to the couple that they'd have a son? He killed Ananais and his wife for lying to Him. They lied to God through lying to his servant Peter in whom God lived. What was different about Sara's lie? Why was she shown mercy, and allowed to live while two other people who lied to God were struck dead?

Let's take a closer look at the difference in these two situations of people lying in God's presence. We will then see that He truly is no respecter of persons, though He may appear to be partial at first glance. In the case of Ananias and his wife Saphira, there was craftiness. The couple lied to cover up their dirty deeds. Sara, on the other hand, feared. We know this is true, because we read, "She was afraid." Her fear made all the difference. Remember that right in the passage where Peter says he perceives God is no respecter of persons, he says, "But in every nation he that FEARETH Him...is accepted with Him" (Acts 10:34-35).

Ananias and Saphira did not fear. They simply thought they'd try to pull a fast one. But they made the mistake of not knowing that in doing so, they were lying to the very Spirit of God, which cost them their lives. The case with Sara is totally different. She also lied. But she lied, because she feared the Lord. Therefore, He had pity on her. We read, "The Lord pitieth them that FEAR Him" (Psalm 103:13).

Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.

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