Peter is one of the first people I would like to see in heaven. Bold, outspoken, bigger than life. If he’s not 6' 6", 240 pounds, I’m going to be disappointed.
In Acts 3, we saw him command a lame man to get up and walk in the name of Jesus. The guy was ecstatic...leapt up, walking and praising God. Caused quite a stir.
A council of rulers and elders and teachers of religious law convened in Jerusalem and the two disciples were brought before them. They demanded, "By what power or in whose name have you done this?"
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Leaders and elders of our nation, are we being questioned because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed in the name and power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. There is salvation in no one else!" (Acts 4:8-10)
Fearless, outspoken, straight to the point.
"The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had no special training…but since the man who had been healed was standing right there among them, the council had nothing to say."
This man had been lame for more than forty years. What could they say?
I think of all the Bible studies I have taken. Suppose someone asked me about the Precept study of Romans, what would I say? "Oh it was good. It was soooo good.” Well, just exactly what was good? What difference did it make in my life? What changed? Southern Living was good this month too. And I’ve changed my flower beds as a result. Surely something changed if I studied the Bible!
But have you ever asked someone about a Bible study and they answered, "Yeah, I took Romans. It changed my life," and they tell you what changed?
I was talking to a friend not long ago. I don't know her relationship with Jesus. We spent about an hour together, discussing a problem she was having. I felt inept… me, the conversation queen.
I could meet you in an elevator and by the time we got to the sixth floor, we would have shared how we met our husbands, our child birth experiences, teenage rebellion, hairdressers and have a date set to meet for lunch. I met a lady in produce one day at Kroger. By the time we left the store, we’d set a play date for our boys. My husband could not believe it. "You don’t even know this woman!" Yes, I did. We covered all the basics. I think it’s a woman thing.
So I was telling my husband that I couldn’t figure out what to say to my friend. He said maybe I just didn’t have that gift. But if that’s true, what do I say if I meet someone who is starving? That I’m sorry, I’m a terrible cook? I just don’t have that gift? Too bad they just got me? Or do I just keep my mouth shut because they may not like what I fix them? No...I may not be a great cook, but surely I could make a peanut butter sandwich so they wouldn’t starve to death.
I may not be eloquent when it comes to sharing my faith, but surely a word or two about how He’s changed my life is simple enough. I don’t want my words to sound preachy. I don’t want to quote pious little phrases like "Well, you’ve just got to let go and let God," or "Give it to Jesus."
I want to be able to relate how Jesus worked in a similar situation in my life...a relationship, an attitude, a crisis and that I found resolution to the problem and peace for my soul…..in Him.
A former president was asked once who had most impacted his life. His answer was, "Jesus Christ, because He changed my life." Our answer should be the same. And I should be able to relate specific ways He has changed it. Like the man who was lame for over 40 years, standing right beside Peter and John big as day.
Because people might argue with you doctrinally, but they cannot refute a changed life.
So what’s different...or are we just inspired?
How is your daily life different? Did you approach your last big decision differently? How do you relate differently to your kids, your in laws or neighbors? Is your response to a crisis different? Has your marriage changed or do you relate differently to your husband? Is your love for others different? Is your mouth different? Do you worry like you used to?
I don’t think proof comes in generalities...it comes in specifics.
"Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers.." (James 1:22) ..."that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:7)
When we relate how Jesus has changed our everyday lives, people connect. They are able to respond with a, "Man, I wish that were true in my life." It can be.
Just introduce them to the One who changed your life.
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