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 NIV
"Bad company corrupts good character," but the opposite is also true: good company promotes good character.
After healing a lame man, Peter and John were questioned by the Sanhedrin, who demanded to know by what power they had performed such a miracle. These were ordinary men—not of noble birth or influence—yet they spoke with authority and healed with power, leaving the religious elite confounded.
But there was one undeniable truth: these men had been with Jesus. For three years, they had walked with Him, witnessed His miracles, and experienced His mercy and compassion. Keeping company with Jesus had transformed their lives.
What the religious leaders failed to grasp was that Peter and John had been commissioned and empowered by Christ Himself. Nothing could stand in the way of God’s calling. Before His ascension, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the promised Holy Spirit, assuring them that they would be clothed with power from on high. And indeed, that power was what the leaders noticed—the undeniable evidence of God’s Spirit filling and transforming them from ordinary individuals into people of courage and strength.
The same is true for us. As we spend time in God’s presence, Christ reshapes our nature, replacing it with His own. When we seek Him, He fills us with His Spirit, making us more gentle, loving, and compassionate.
Let it be evident in your life and interactions that you have been with Jesus.
Comments