Have You Been with Jesus?

This past Sunday, one of the lessons in our small groups was concerning our personal testimonies and how if we don’t share it – then it’s not a testimony.  Matt Batterson wrote, “If we don’t share our testimonies, we are robbing God of the glory that He deserves.  And we aren’t just holding out on God; we are holding out on those who need to hear it.”

Then our lesson mentioned Peter and John from an account in Acts 4:13, which I would like to share a few short thoughts on.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled (THEY WERE ASTONISHED); and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

Every time I read this verse, or hear this verse, I can’t help but stop and meditate on it.  To take this verse in its context, Peter and John are appearing in court before the religious leaders of the day – the Pharisees and Sadducees.  They are standing before the most highly educated men of their day and giving an accounting (a testimony).

The men that are questioning them know that they are not educated men, they know that they are not trained in Theology, yet they conclude: That They Have Been with Jesus!

I got to thinking about that and I ask myself, “To the church family that I serve, to the community that I am trying to reach, when I have had conversation with them and leave, will they say of me ‘Joe has been with Jesus!”

And I want to challenge every one reading this blog – now you think about the people you’ve come in contact with just today:

• The people at home;
• The people you passed on the roads;
• The people you saw at the store or the gas pump;
• Your neighbors.

When you left, I wonder if they could say of you – “Now that is someone that has been with Jesus!”

I believe when you got around Peter and John:

• You could smell the aroma of Jesus;
• You could see the radiance of Jesus;
• You could feel the presence of Jesus;
• You could hear the voice of Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I sure want my life to radiate Jesus.  I want all that I come in contact with to say, “Joe has been with Jesus.”