Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
I love this verse because it shows what a difference Jesus can make in the live of two very ordinary people — Jesus is what made Peter and John stand out from other folks. “They had been with Jesus.” What an awesome thing for people to say about someone.
When I think of this story and apply it to my life, the question I have to ask myself is, “Does knowing Jesus make me stand out from the people around me? Do I spend enough time with Him for it to matter?” In other words, can the people who don’t really know me tell that I’m different? And if they can, is it a good kind of difference — one that’s so good they want it for themselves?
Peter and John obviously were different in a way that was so real, so inviting, that people couldn’t help but notice. Did their faces glow? Did joy cling to them like an invisible cloak? Did they inspire a confidence that others couldn’t resist?
I don’t know the answers to those questions, and never will — or at least I never will on this side of heaven. In the meantime, my goal is to step closer to Jesus each day so that when people see me or hear me or read things I write, there won’t be any doubt in their mind – I’ve been with Jesus.
