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 with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NLT)
Dear Lord Jesus, this simple story indicts and invites my heart this morning. Two unschooled, ordinary fishermen named Peter and John were radically liberated, all because of their vital relationship with you.
Jesus, this story reminds me that doing the right things for you is not the same thing as spending life-giving time with you. Thinking great thoughts about you is not the same thing as vital communion with you. Helping others understand the gospel is not the same thing as drinking presently and deeply from the wellspring of grace for myself.
Jesus, renew and refresh, deepen and delight, fuel and fertilize my heart-relationship with you. I don’t want to hear you say, ten minutes or ten years from now, “I have this against you, you have forsaken the love you had at first.” May your beauty be alluring, your love compelling, and your grace transforming in my life.
Because who or what do I have in heaven but you, Jesus? You make heaven heavenly. And being with you, I desire nothing on earth, because absolutely nothing else satisfies my soul like you do. My flesh and my heart may fail, but you, Jesus, are the strength of my heart and my portion, my banquet, my inheritance, forever. It is good, and it is enough, for me to be near you, my sovereign Savior and my loving refuge. I pray in your holy and compassionate name. Amen.
