Acts 4:1-21
Have you ever read the Scripture and thought, wow, these people are extraordinary, making you feel that you could never teach, preach, pray, or prophesize like them or have the courage they had? Acts 4:1-21 reminds us that God calls and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. God used Peter and John to teach and proclaim the resurrection of Christ, which caused about five thousand to believe (v4). Even the people around them that did not agree with what they were doing saw the courage that was in them, which made them "realize that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (v13). You do not need a degree, title, or position to do God's work. You have the Holy Spirit in you who works through you. Sometimes I wonder how many nonbelievers would be reached if every Christian would take courage and proclaim and teach the Gospel. He has called, chosen, anointed, and appointed YOU. You who may be uneducated, too young, too old, and ordinary, to do the extraordinary. It is the Holy Spirit who will guide, teach, and do things through you. Even those who do not understand or agree with what you are doing will see the courage and faith in you as God is working through you. In this passage, the elders, rulers, and teachers of the law asked them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus (v18). But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or him? You be the judges! As for us, we can to help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (v19). Stop listening to those around you or even yourself, trying to stop you from saying, doing, or going where God is taking, doing, or speaking. Be like Peter and John and respond to those voices, "as for me, I can't help but speak, do and go where God is taking, speaking and doing."
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for calling, choosing, anointing, and appointing ordinary me, to do extraordinary work for your kingdom. Help me have courage and remove all fear and doubt that stops me from speaking, doing, and going where you have called me. Remove the lies of needing education, experience, or titles to do your work. It is by and through the Holy Spirit which you have already deposited in me that will do the work. I trust you to guide my steps, and I speak, do, and go in faith. Amen.
Worship Song: