Recently a newer saint in our church approached my sister, mom and I and gave the sweetest compliment. “When I see you, I just know you’ve been with Jesus – it’s all over you. I want to be with Him like that!” While it was one of the greatest compliments ever received, it gave me pause. Is this something we think about when prepping for the day? Do we think about whether people can physically see if we’ve been with Jesus? We may dress a separate standard, speak in a different manner, and hold close various principles, but can people actually SEE if we’ve been with Him in our actions?
Acts 4 relates the story of Peter and John and the results of their preaching the word-they were thrown in jail. They came before the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious officials) the next morning and were questioned.
“And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 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 4:7-13 ESV)”
Peter & John were recognized that they had been with Jesus by the boldness of their words, and I personally believe, by the manner in which their words were formed. As His people, when we are filled with His spirit, we are equipped with power (Acts 1:8), and that same power gives us the ability to stand up for what we believe in. We are also to study to show ourselves approved and rightly dividing His word (II Timothy 2:15), which Peter & John did here very eloquently.
Remember, Peter & John were fishermen by trade – not educated men by any means. The Sanhedrin, which contained members of the Sadducees, were some of the most educated men of their time, having access to both religious and political education and knowledge. For them to recognize that Peter & John had been with Jesus their “performance” must have been pretty flawless.
Jesus will shine through you on your job if you have been with Him. He will be seen in your work performance if you’ve made time for your morning with Him. He doesn’t discriminate who He is with, desiring to be with all of us.
Have YOU been with Jesus?
When you speak, how often does your sentence start with or include “I” or “me.” Does your language and attitude defect Christ? Open the door today and allow others to see that you have been with Jesus. And if you haven’t…make some time for Him.