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Glaucous Gull, Alaska. Photo by Charles F. Stanley.
Daily Devotion

“They Had Been With Jesus”

Spending time with Jesus transforms us, and His presence then becomes noticeable to others.

Acts 4:13-22

The rulers, elders, and scribes in today’s passage were amazed. Peter and John, standing before them, had just healed a lame man in Jesus’ name and preached Christ’s resurrection to a crowd (Acts 3:1-26). Interrogating them, the authorities expected the fumbling defense of uneducated Galileans. Instead, they witnessed clarity and courage that were hard to explain. As a result, the leaders “began to recognize them as having been with Jesus” (4:13).

That small observation contains an enormous truth. What set Peter and John apart wasn’t credentials or natural gifts. It was proximity. They had walked with Jesus. They had eaten with Him, listened to Him, watched Him, been rebuked and loved and sent by Him. And it showed.

We sometimes imagine the Christian life is about becoming impressive for God. But Scripture gently tells a different story. The Lord isn’t seeking people with the right résumé; He’s looking for those who will sit near Him long enough to be changed by Him. He wants people like the disciples—fishermen, a tax collector—none of them remarkable by the world’s standards.

Whatever your life looks like, time spent with Jesus is never wasted. Others may not always notice what you’ve done. But hopefully they’ll come to recognize Who you’ve been with.

Bible in One Year: Luke 6-7