They took note...

I really enjoy the book of Acts. It is a book of action and that is an understatement. When we left off last week, Jesus had just been raised from the dead. In this chapter of The Story we read of His ascension, the giving of the promised Holy Spirit and the beginning of spreading the Good News of salvation to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the whole world. This chapter is exciting because even though the book of Acts is complete, the acts of the Church of Jesus, the Body of Christ, have never stopped! As followers of the Messiah, we are a direct part of the process of making disciples that began 2000 years ago. We too have been commissioned to share the Good News.

One of the things I like most in this chapter was watching the transformation of the followers of Jesus. Before His death, they bickered about who was the greatest in the Kingdom, fought over who would serve Him, and didn’t understand or accept what He said fully. After He returned to Heaven, the Holy Spirit came and opened their eyes to all things. They were transformed mightily, so much so that in Acts chapter 4, verse 13 we read that when Peter and John were arrested by the religious leaders, the leaders were astonished.  This is what it says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

“They took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Wow! Has my life been so transformed that when someone looks at me they would say the same thing? I don’t know, but that would be my greatest hope. What about you? Would those around you take note that your life has changed so amazingly that the only answer is that you have been with Jesus?

Ivan