Today, as I was reading my Bible (I'm working through Dr. Horner's Bible Reading Plan), I came across a passage that I've read many times but was truly amazed by for the first time. I was reading Acts 4, where Peter and John are before the council after being put into prison for preaching "in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." The next section of this account is what truly amazed me this morning:
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
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 4:8-13
First off, being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter was so bold! He spoke God's truth with clarity and conviction. It was this boldness that allowed him to say what I always desire to say but often allow my sin to keep me from saying:
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
I began to think, "I AM filled with the Holy Spirit and because of that, I can proclaim this message to people who need to hear it!" It was just astonishing to me that this same Spirit who gave Peter this boldness is the same Spirit living within me!
The next thing that really got me thinking, was the people's responses to this message that they were hearing from Peter and John. Just as I was astonished, so were these men overhearing this message. Not only were they astonished, they "recognized that they had been with Jesus." What made these people recognize that these men had been with Jesus? Was it the miracles? The fact that they were uneducated and common? Or was it because these men were filled with the Spirit boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ, though they had no worldly education? I dare say it was the latter. God had given them boldness - a light - that was undeniably from above.
I began thinking, "well, my goodness, if people heard me speak would they recognize that I am a child of God? Would they decipher that I spend time alone with God, learning His heart so that I might be more like Him? Would it be unmistakable that I have been with Jesus?? This was a convicting thought that reminded me of my need to daily check my life to be sure that I am being a light in this world!
I was also reminded of something else, however. That we are called to be bold, but at the same time, we are called to be gentle. It is FAR too easy to be bold without the element of gentleness. I know too many people, including myself, who have royally messed up the opportunity to give the gospel, a rebuke, or even an encouragement because the way they presented it was much too harsh. When reading this passage about Peter's boldness given by the Spirit, I could not help but think of this passage:
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15
Here is the same man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and with boldness in the book of Acts. He must have learned his lesson, just as I am continually learning, that the message preached must be preached with respect and gentleness or it will be futile. I love that Jesus is our perfect example of being bold, yet gentle. I love that, because of the Holy Spirit, we can be like Him!
Those were just a few thoughts from my reading today. May I be the type of woman that when people interact with me, they recognize that I have been with Jesus!
PS: Today is the first day of February. Second month of the Joy Dare!
I'm also starting this today!
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