January 31, 2008 - Acts 4:13

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13.
Peter and John had been arrested and brought before the full Sanhedrin, the Jewish, religious leaders of their day, for their trial. In the view of these leaders, a disturbance had erupted at the hands of Peter and John. Peter spoke with boldness and courage, testifying that it was by the name of Jesus, who these leaders had put to death but God had brought back to life, that this man had been healed. After hearing Peter speak, the leaders marveled at the courage of these two “unschooled, ordinary” men, noting that what marked them as different was that “these men had been with Jesus.” It was “being with Jesus” – walking daily with Him, as His disciples; walking in relationship to this Master – that made the difference.
I have heard it said many times that if you want to see where a person’s heart is, look at their check book. How a person spends their money can be a good indicator of what is “transforming” their life. Likewise, a schedule or calendar can be an indicator of where we place our true importance. In my life, even though my natural tendency is to get alone and avoid people, I try to get with people and build deeper relationships, because I know how the Master uses others in my life to make and mold me into His image. In this way, I am being marked as one who has “been with Jesus.”
Questions to consider: Who is it that has influenced your life? Have those around you noticed a difference in your life? What changes have happened in your life that mark you as different because of what Jesus has done in you? How is your life “marked” as different, as a result of “being with Jesus?”
Prayer: Lord, help me to not drift to what is easy in my life. Help me to be transformed to the place where those around me notice that what makes me different is that I have “been with Jesus” and have been with You. Amen.