A Prayer About Being with Jesus
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
Lord Jesus, this simple story is simply profound. Peter and John, two unschooled, ordinary fishermen men were radically changed by grace and wondrously engaged in life because “these men had been with Jesus“-with you, the same Lord who lives in my heart and rules all things from heaven. How inviting and indicting this remarkable passage is to me in this season of my journey home.
Oh to be a man, about whom others would be inclined to say, “He’s obviously been with Jesus. What else could explain his merciful heart for the broken… his great joy in drawing attention away from himself, towards Jesus… and his inability to stop speaking of the things he has seen and heard about the advancing of Jesus’ kingdom?”
“What other motivation and reason would he have for loving so boldly, forgiving so deeply and giving so generously, even in the face in the face of strong opposition? Yeah, he’s been with Jesus, alright, because that’s surely not the guy we remember from a while back.”
Lord Jesus, doing noble things for you is not the same thing as spending life-giving time with you. Thinking great thoughts about you is not the same thing as vital communion with you. Helping others understand the gospel is not the same thing as freshly connecting with you. I’m not really all that concerned about others being able to say, “He’s been with Jesus” as much as I want to know that I’ve been with you.
Because… who do I have I in heaven but you, Jesus? And being with you, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but you, Jesus, are the strength of my heart and my portion forever… It is good, and it is enough, for me to be near you… my sovereign savior and my loving refuge. So very Amen, I pray in your name.