WHAT DO YOU SEE
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.(Acts 4:13)
Recently I was visiting with someone and we were talking about faith and the confidence we must have in what we may not see right away. I asked a question that I know had to be Spirit led. Actually I heard myself ask if I looked saved the last time he saw me. The truth of the matter is that there is nothing in our immediate appearance that will really confirm or deny our salvation. The day may come when there is a sign to say one way or the other, but right now that is not the case.
Think about it. There are lots of people who wear crosses that simply wear them for jewelry. There are also people whose outward appearance may make you think there is no way they could be a Christian. The bottom line on this is that how we look only tells how we look, and not who we are!
It is our actions and our words that will confirm or deny our salvation. In the same way our words and actions reveal where we are in our walk of faith. These same words and actions either produce what God has planned for our lives or prevent us from receiving it.
In this scripture the boldness of Peter and John impressed the folks who wanted to put a stop to the talk about the Name of Jesus. They knew that Peter and John were not educated or trained, but they sure sounded like it. The anointing of God gave them the words and the delivery.
Based on their observation, they could only conclude that being with Jesus had something to do with it! There is something about being with Jesus that changes people. That is why it is so important that we spend time with Him. This was what transformed Peter and John, and this is what will transform us. God sent the Holy Spirit just as Jesus promised and He is busy working in the lives of all who allow Him to do so in order to transform us into the image of Christ.
This transformation will not only produce changes in our lives but also around our lives. When that happens, it does not take very long for our words, actions, and the results to confirm to those around us that we have been with Jesus. This was the very thing that produced the miracles then and it is what will produce miracles in and around our lives now. Let them see Jesus!