Monday 25 September - Life-Changing Friendship with Jesus: "They Had Been With Jesus"

Weekly Summary

This week on the Battle Drill Devotional podcast we examine what was so different about Peter and John that their enemies "recognised them as men who had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13 NLT). Can people see you have been with Jesus? Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.

Introduction

How have you chosen your friends? Did you just "fall in" with them? Was it an accident of location? Did you want to be seen with the "cool kids"? Choosing your friends should be done wisely. After all, someone once said you are the average of the five people you spend most time with. Is that true for you? If it is, then you and I had better be spending as much time with Jesus as we can.

Peter and John Arrested

Jesus' disciples, Peter and John, are dragged before the council of the rulers and elder and teachers of religious law in Jerusalem, because they had healed a crippled beggar. The healing threatened their power and way of life, and had to be stopped. In any event, they wanted to know who on earth these people were that they could perform healing miracles.

They Had Been With Jesus

During the course of their show trial, Peter and John spoke confidently and with great courage, so much so that members of the council recognised they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13 NLT). What an amazing thing to say about anyone!

What Friendship With Jesus Means

Friendship with Jesus means he will carry our burdens. He brings you joy. He brings you confidence. He brings you courage. Why? Because he walks with you.

Being friends with Jesus means being willing to be led where you do not want to go. To be a friend with Jesus means loving others just as he loves them. It's hard work sometimes!

They Had Been With Jesus - Have You?

But being friends with Jesus is life-changing. Peter and John - they had been with Jesus, and people could see it in the way they conducted themselves. Would people say that about you and me?

Think It Over

Think about the following:

Would people look at you and say they had been with Jesus? Why or why not?