When they saw the boldness of Peter and
John…
they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
Maybe you’ve known
people like this. There’s nothing remarkable about them on the surface. They’ll
never win a Pulitzer Prize, Person of the Year, or even the Publisher’s
Clearing House, but they have a presence about them that is compelling. Maybe
they never finished high school, but they talk about Jesus like He lives next
door. They may have a past that belongs on the post office wall, but they talk
about forgiveness and grace like they invented it. No seminary training could
produce the glow that lights their faces when they talk about the Lord. They’re
humble and astonishingly non-religious, but not afraid of the truth no matter
who is offended. There are still Peters and Johns among us who cause the world to
take notice.
What is that
quality that separates Peter and John from the rest of us? Why do some
professing Christians seem indistinguishable from the world, while others exude
a radiance found only in the presence of God? Jesus said that radiance is
available to anyone. Peter and John were ordinary men, but Jesus told them,
“You are the light of the world.” We are too. We get that light by spending
much time in His presence and in His word. When we’ve basked in His glory, the
world holds little fascination for us. And whatever fascinates us is what
people notice about us. No one cares about religious jargon or churchy talk. They
notice the light. When Jesus is the strongest influence in our lives, people can
tell that we’ve been with Him.
Have you spent enough time in the
presence of Jesus that others can tell?
.
