Having been with Jesus...

"They were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."--Acts 4:13.  This passage is making reference to the fact that the religious leaders of the day saw Peter and John as uneducated men.  This is why they were amazed.  The boldness of Peter and John in their preaching, despite being uneducated men showed the religious leaders that they had been with Jesus.  The text says the religious leaders observed in Peter and John a certain confidence about them.  Peter and John did not have the official religious training the Pharisees did yet because they had been with Jesus, they lacked nothing and had the confidence to preach His gospel even to the most "educated" of men.

My question for you this morning is do people recognize you as having been with Jesus? I think we should all take encouragement in the fact that in the eyes of the world, Peter and John were uneducated but because they had learned from Jesus, that lack of education meant nothing.  What this should remind us of is that we don't have to have some sort of degree to share the gospel with others.  This is not to say that sharing the gospel is easy and that it does not require studying the Scriptures.  It is by no means easy.  My point is it is does not require a college degree to share the gospel.  I have in mind my good friend and brother in Christ Joe Wilkie, a 16 year old fresh out of High School (Yes he is 16 and out of High School).  Click here for a glimpse of Joe's insight into God's Word.  Joe, with just his High School diploma I know is going to become a great preacher of God's Word.  He may get his college degree at some point, he may not, but a college degree does not impact his or any of our ability to preach the gospel to others.

But it starts with being with Jesus.  The apostles learned from Christ.  They spent 3 years of their lives learning from Christ.  We need to take time everyday to learn from Christ by studying His Word.  If we study His Word and turn it into action, it is then and only then that people will recognize us as having been with Christ. Again I ask, do people recognize you as having been with Jesus? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! PRAY ABOUT IT! LOVE Y'ALL GOD BLESS!