(This is a continuation of a previous topic. You can read the preceding posts here and here.)
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)
When we spend time with Jesus, we are changed. God is able to develop us into the person He created us to be. Here are several more passages of Scripture that speak to this truth.
Being with Jesus causes us to begin to look more like Him.
God, in his foreknowledge, chose them to bear the family likeness of his Son, that he might be the eldest of a family of many brothers. (Romans 8:29)
I want that mark on me as well! When I interact with people around me, at work, at home, in my community, I pray that people will say, “He has been with Jesus!”
Being with Jesus causes us to bear fruit
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
God uses those of us the world considers “foolish” or “weak”
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1:26-27)
Being with Jesus is the best thing
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
Decide to spend time with Jesus today. Spend time with Him, believing that He is changing you, making you fruitful, more loving, more forgiving, and more effective for the kingdom of God.
Be blessed!