Recognizable?

“ . . . they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

I’ve been thinking about it all week long. 

It all began when I read the account of Peter and John – two of Jesus’ followers – approaching the temple in Jerusalem. They were going there to pray. As they were about to enter the temple, a man crippled from birth asked them for alms. At this point, I can imagine Peter and John both reaching into their pockets, noting that neither of them had any money in their wallets. But they didn’t just brush him off. They offered him what they did have. Peter gazed right at the man and said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6)  And the man did just that. But the no-longer-lame man did more than that. He went “walking and leaping and praising God.” 

As we can well imagine, those who saw the man who had been lame for over 40 years walking and leaping were dumbstruck. We can also imagine they listened to what he had to say. What, exactly, was he saying? He was giving all honor and praise to God. As he clung to Peter and John, the people followed. And they listened. They listened to Peter and John as they told the crowd all about Jesus – how He was the promised Messiah, He suffered and died upon the cross, and He had defeated death by rising again.

I’m quite sure many came to faith that day. Others certainly doubted. As we read on, we learn there were some who were annoyed and wanted Peter and John to stop sharing their message. Yet all of them had to admit that Peter and John had been with Jesus. They had seen His miracles, heard Him teach, witnessed His arrest, saw Him crucified, and – most of all – had seen Him resurrected and alive. What else would give them the courage and tenacity to keep sharing their message if they weren’t completely and absolutely convinced it was true? “They had been with Jesus!” They had seen it all with their own two eyes!

As I read this Bible account, I began to wonder. While it is true that I haven’t seen Jesus with my eyes, I have seen Him with the eyes of my heart (through faith). But I wonder; do people recognize that I have been with Jesus? Do they know from what I say and how I live that I have “seen” Jesus . . . that I believe in Him? What can I do to make my faith in Jesus more evident through what I say and how I conduct myself? I wonder . . . ?

Are you with me? Do you ever wonder? Do people recognize that you have been with Jesus, that you’ve seen Him and believe in Him? Is your faith evident to others?

Perhaps you might benefit from pondering some of the questions I’ve been asking myself?

• Where have I “seen” Jesus today?
• How can I thank Him for what He has done for me?
• Who do I know that is hurting or spiritually lost . . . someone I can serve, support, and lift up in prayer?
• What am I afraid of?
• For what can I pray? Strength? Listening ears? The words to speak? The opportunity to serve?

We don’t need to know everything there is to know. We only need to share what we have seen and heard!

May the Lord continue the good work He has begun in us and use us to share His love and good news!

In HIM!

Pastor Tim