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
Dear Lord Jesus, this simple story confronts and corrals my wandering heart this morning. Peter and John, two unschooled, ordinary fishermen men were radically changed because “these men had been with Jesus”—with you, the same Lord who lives in my heart and rules all things from heaven.
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 courage in the face of injustice… his calm in the presence of chaos? What other motivation and reason would he have for loving so boldly… forgiving so quickly… and sharing so generously?”
What else could account for his patience when provoked… his loud laugh and his ready tears… the way he treats his wife and looks a stranger in the eye? Yeah, he’s been with Jesus, alright, because that’s not the same 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 drinking presently and deeply from the wellspring of grace for myself. In all honesty, I’m not really concerned about others being able to say, “He’s been with Jesus.” I want my own heart to know that I’ve been with you.
Because, who or what do I have I in heaven but you, Jesus? You make heaven heavenly. And being with you, I desire nothing on earth… because absolutely nothing else satisfies my soul like you do. My flesh and my heart may fail, but you, Jesus, are the strength of my heart and my portion… my banquet… my inheritance, 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 holy and compassionate name.
