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
Lord Jesus, this simple statement intrigues our distractible hearts this August morning. Two unschooled, common fishermen—Peter and John, were radically changed, simply by spending time with you. How encouraging and convicting that is.
We’d love to be the kind of people about whom others would be inclined to say, “He’s obviously been with Jesus. What else could explain his merciful heart, and courage in the face of injustice, and his love for people so different from himself? And did you notice how kind he was with his wife?”
“What else would compel her to overlook so much, forgive so quickly, and repent with such joy? Listen to her loud laugh and see those compassionate tears. Yeh, she’s been with Jesus. That’s what happens when people walk closely with him.”
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 drinking deeply from the wellspring of grace for ourselves. Never let us forget. Constantly woo our wandering hearts.
Because, who or what do we have in heaven but you, Jesus? You make heaven heavenly. And being with you calms our restlessness and sabotages our envy. Absolutely nothing else satisfies us like you do, Jesus. Our flesh and hearts may fail, but you are the strength of our hearts; and our portion, banquet, and inheritance. Refresh and deepen our fellowship with you, Jesus. So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant name.